t  rbcalia;    , 

300FELL0W.SJ<ALL 


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i\K  ff-  1- 


[by  the  same  author.] 

THE  FIRST  OF  THE  KNI   KERBOGKERS, 
51  aale  of  1673. 

SECOND       EDITION,       12mO.,75       CENTS. 


"A  ^tor}'  of  marked  power  and  interest." — Washington   Union. 

"  A  mo-t  thrilling  tale." — American  Spectator. 

"  Decidedly  the  elevere~t  and  most  successful  of  the  not  very  numerous  at- 
tempts that  have  been  made  to  work  up,  for  the  purposes  of  romantic  fiction, 
the  undoubtedly  rich  store  of  material  supplied  by  the  earlier  history  of  New 
York." — N.  Y.  Commercial  Advertiser. 

"  The  book,  all  in  all,  is  excellent." — Buffalo  Com,. 

"  The  well-written  preface  in  this  volume  is  a  happy  introduction  to  the 
graceful  pages  beyond." — Literary  World. 

"  A  story  of  interest  and  spirit  ;  to  the  descendants  of  the  Knickerbockers  it 
must  prove  as  interesting  a  book  as  the  '  Last  of  the  Saxons'  to  English 
readers." — Albany  Argus. 

"  A  spirited  tale,  and  will  prove  an  entertaining  volume  to  all  lovers  of 
pleasing  fiction." — Home  Journal. 

"  A  well  conducted  and  lively  tale  ;  the  interest  is  well  sustained." — Demo- 
cratic Review. 


THE    YOUNG    PATROON. 

OR 

Cl)n0tma0  m  1690. 

"  We  have  just  finished  the  reading  of  this  little  volume,  and  the  repeated 
expres.-ioiis  of  intere.-t  and  gratification  of  the  group  who  listened  to  it,  are  no 
insignificant  commentary  upon  its  merits.  It  is  one  of  those  '  very  good  tales  and 
very  well  told,'  which  we  are  glad  to  meet  with.  The  plot  is  eff*ective  and  the 
incidents  well  related.  There  is  a  vein  of  sparkling  wit  pervading  the  narra- 
tive which  greatly  heightens  its  interest." — South.  Literary  Gazette. 

"The  author  of  thi-  volume  is  very  successfully  developing  the  rich  material 
which  the  early  history  of  New  York  affords  for  the  purposes  of  fiction.  There 
is  a  quiet  vein  of  humor  running  through  the  work  which  reminds  us  of  old 
Diedrich  himself,  and  which  cannot  fail  to  make  it  very  popular  among  the 
descendants  of  the  ancient  families  of  Manhattan." — N.    Y.    Tribune. 

"  The  '  Young  Patroon'  is  a  worthy  companion  of  its  predecessor.  It  has 
the  same  traits  of  quiet  humor  and  observation,  carefulness  of  style,  and  inge- 
nious though  not  complex  contrivance  of  plot.  There  is  a  love  of  the  sub- 
ject, a  kindling  over  old  Dutch  manners  and  Manhattan  antiquities,  something 
in  the  vehi  of  Paulding,  which  is  not  le.^.5  attractive  for  the  modesty  and  re- 
serve with  which  everything  is  set  forth." — Literary    World, 

"  A  lively  and  amusing  tale." — Albion. 

G.  i'.  PUTNA.M,  155  Broadway. 


THE 


KING    OF    THE    HURONS. 


BY    THE    AUTHOR    OF    "THE    FIRST    OF    THE    KNICKERBOCKERS"    AND 
"THE    YOUNG    PATROON." 


NEW  YORK: 
GEORGE  P.  PUTNAM,  165  BROADWAY. 

LONDON:    PUTNAM'S   AMERICAN    AGENCY, 

49   Bow  Lane,  Cheapside. 

MDCCCL. 


Rntered,  f.crording  to  Act  of  Ccf.gress,  in  the  year  1P49.  by 

C  .     P  .     P  Til'  N  A  M  , 

in  the  Clerk'^  Otfjce  .it"  ±3  Dist:ict  Court  nf  the  ^outnern  District  of  New  York. 


■RAIGHKAD,  PRIVTKR  \ND  STKR  KOTYl'E  R, 
ll-J  KULTO.N  SFRKKT,  NKW  YORK. 


PREFACE. 


"  The  King  of  the  Hurons"  is  a  story  of  civilized, 
rather  than  of  savage  life,  notwithstanding  the  seeming 
indication  to  the  contrary,  contained  in  its  title  ;  and  those 
of  its  readers  who  are  familiar  with  the  events  of  the  age 
in  which  its  scenes  are  supposed  to  have  occurred,  will 
readily  remember  the  historical  personage  from  whom  the 
idea  of  its  principal  character  has  been  derived. 

When  this  simple  explanation  is  made,  the  author  does 
not  find  that  he  has  further  use  for  a  preface.  He  believes, 
indeed,  that  he  has  several  good  reasons  for  placing  his 
book  before  the  public ;  but  as  these  will  not  be  required 
by  readers  who  like  it,  and  would  be  quite  unsatisfactory 
to  those  who  do  not,  it  would  be  clearly  useless  to  publish 
them. 

With  a  thoroughly  appreciating  sense  of  the  kindness 
which  has  marked  the  reception,  by  the  press  and  the 
public,  of  his  former  brief  productions,  he  submits  this  also 
to  the  same  generous  tribunal. 


M69a I s 


THE 


KING    OE    THE    HUEONS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

"  The  hour,  th'  occasion  all  your  skill  demands, 
A  leaky  ship,  embayed  by  dangerous  lands." — Falconer. 

It  was  duiing  a  \iolent  storm  in  the  spring  of  1708,  that  a  French 
brig  of  war,  seriously  crippled,  was  discovered  in  the  bay  of  New 
York,  showing  signals  of  distress,  and  approaching,  with  indirect 
coui-se,  to  the  harbor.  There  was,  of  coui*se,  not  wanting  a  race  of 
panic-makers  in  those  days — progenitors,  doubtless,  of  a  similar  class 
in  our  own — who  at  once  saw  in  the  unfortunate  vessel  an  estray 
from  a  belligerent  fleet,  hovering  close  at  hand,  and  ready  to 
descend,  ^vith  fatal  swoop,  upon  the  long-threatened  city.  Rumors, 
indeed,  of  such  an  armada  had  long  been  rife,  and  had,  perhaps, 
accomphshed  their  intended  eifect,  m  restraining  the  Enghsh  colony 
from  any  ^^gorous  efforts  at  the  conquest  of  Canada — an  entei-prise 
on  which  more  words  than  wadding  had  been  wasted,  but  which,  of 
course,  was  not  to  be  undertaken  while  any  peril  impended  over  its 
own  capital.  France  might  thus  be  compared  to  some  good  dame, 
w-ho  watches  from  a  distance  the  quarrels  between  her  neighbors' 
childi-en  and  her  own,  and  contents  herself  with  shakmg  a  stick  at 

1 


2  THE     KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

the  former,  wliile  in  reality  too  indolent,  or  too  mncli  occupied  in 
more  important  business,  to  fulfil  any  of  her  pantomimic  threats. 
Certain  it  was,  that  at  this  period  she  meditated  no  invasion  of  that 
embryo  metropolis,  which  reposed,  in  doubtful  security,  betwixt  two 
rivers  and  a  picket  fence ;  the  latter  being  denominated  by  courtesy, 
a  wall,  and  stretching  transversely  across  the  town.  The  good  ship 
St.  Cloud,  on  the  contrary,  if  aught  could  be  judged  from  her  zigzag 
movements,  was  approaching  the  city  with  anything  but  alacrity, 
despite  the  nautical  adage,  old,  doubtless,  as  her  day,  "  any  port  in 
a  storm."  • ,  Driven  from  her  course,  dismasted,  and  a-leak,  she  had 
been  tossed  for  -weeks,  cork  like,  upon  the  waves,  the  very  plaything 
of  ,tht^  ,el?'ments,  iinti)  ali  hope  of  attaining  a  friendly  port  was  aban- 
doned, and  every  minor  consideration  became  merged  in  the 
instinctive  desire  for  the  preservation  of  life.  Foremost  to  secure 
their  own  safety,  a  reckless  portion  of  the  crew  had  deserted  by  night 
in  the  only  boat  which  had  escaped  destruction ;  and  it  was  with  no 
other  means  of  safety  for  the  lives  intrusted  to  his  care,  that  Captain 
Sill,  on  discovering  himself  near  the  Bay  of  Manhattan,  resolved  to 
seek  the  harbor  of  New  York.  That  he  anticipated  no  mitigated 
fate  from  his  country's  enemies,  by  reason  of  his  disaster,  was  quite 
apparent  from  the  anxiety  depicted  upon  his  countenance,  as  he 
paced  the  quarter-deck  of  his  vessel,  and  looked  mournfully  towards 
the  land.  "What  unusual  reason  he  had  to  deprecate  the  approach- 
ing calamity  will  appear  more  fully,  if  we  descend  with  him  into  the 
cabin,  and  survey  the  few,  but  not  unimportant  personages,  who 
were  under  his  charge  as  passengers,  and  who  had  vainly  anticipated, 
on  leaving  home,  a  safe  and  speedy  voyage  to  the  French  colonial 
capital,  Quebec. 

"  Something  must  be  done  by  way  of  disguise,"  he  muttered  to 
himself  as  he  descended  the  gangway,  "  it  will  never  do  for  the 
baron  to  enter  the  city  in  his  proper  character.  The  resident  agent 
of  the  French  monarch  among  the  fastnesses  of  the  northern  forests, 
the  friend  and  ally  of  the  savage  Ilurons,  would  have  little  clemency 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  3 

to  hope  for  from  the  incensed  colonists  of  New  York  :  I  would  not 
answer  even  for  his  Hfe." 

A  start  and  surprised  look  of  the  speaker  terminated  this  soliloquy, 
as,  entering  the  cabin,  his  eyes  fell  upon  a  tall,  portly  man,  clad  in 
the  habiliments  of  a  sailor,  who  was  pacing  the  floor  with  an  air  of 
dignity  quite  at  variance  with  his  assumed  character. 

"  It  was  well  thought  of,  my  lord  baron,"  exclaimed  the  captain, 
after  a  moment's  gaze  at  his  companion ;  "  none  but  Boswain  Bill 
could  have  fitted  you  with  these  garments,  and  with  a  little  less — 
excuse  me — a  little  more — you  understand  me,  I  presume — you  will 
pass  muster  as  a  sailor  very  well." 

"  I  confess  I  do  not  understand  what  it  is  that  I  want  a  little  less 
and  a  little  more  of.  Captain  Sill,"  replied  the  baron,  "  and  if  you 
have  any  ad\ice  to  give,  speak  out  and  at  once,  for  there  is  but  little 
time  to  be  w^asted." 

"  Very  true,  my  lord,  very  true  ;  if  you  will  excuse  me,  then, 
common  sailors  do  not  walk  with  that  lofty  ah ;  they  do  not  stand 
quite  as  erect ;  their  chests  are  less  prominent,  and — and — they  do 
not  speak  quite  as  boldly,  or  as  correctly,  as  the  Baron  Montaigne." 

"  Yom*  honor  is  quite  right,"  returned  the  other,  changing  his 
whole  deportment  with  a  facility  that  surprised,  and  forced  a  smile 
from  the  captain  ;  "  Jack  Beans  can  reef  a  sail,  or  splice  a  rope, 
equal  to  any  man  on  the  St.  Cloud,  and  no  man  can  say  anything 
against  him,  unless  it  be  that  he  loves  his  grog  and  tobacco  on  ^ 
suitable  occasion." 

"  No — no — no — '  a  suitable  occasion*  would  be  the  death  of  you,'* 
said  Captain  Sill,  laughing,  "  all  very  well  but  that,  though  a  little 
too  stiff;  I  have  no  doubt  you  will  do  very  well,  but  mind  and  use 
no  such  three-deokers  in  conversation." 

"  I  ^vill,  your  honor,"  replied  the  baron,  touching  his  cap  with  ani 
air  of  mock  humility,  that  forced  another  smile  from  the  commander, 
and  displaying  at  the  same  time  a  hand,  which,  although  of  no 
delicate  mould,  was  scrupulously  clean. 


4  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

"  Another  thing,"  rejomed  Sill,  "  you  seem  to  have  overlooked ; 
you  surely  cannot  be  mad  enough  to  think  such  hands  will  not  excite 
suspicion.  Remember  the  fate  of  the  Scottish  Queen.  But  do  not 
look  so  puzzled ;  you  must,  in  short,  consent  to  be  literally,  as  well 
as  figuratively,  under  a  cloud  for  the  present.  A  little  obscuration 
by  mother  Earth  is  all  that  is  necessary :  Boswain  Bill  will  do  it, 
and  tell  him  to  see  that  it  is  well  rubbed  in,  particularly  about  the 
finger  ends ;  I  think  a  quarter  of  an  inch  is  about  the  fashionable 
breadth  for  the  nail  line." 

"  I  cannot  believe  it  necessary  to  descend  to  these  indignities," 
said  the  baron,  haughtily. 

"  If  this  is  an  indignity,  my  lord,  remember  that  the  halter  is  a 
greater — and  that  even  the  facing  a  file  of  musketeers  in  your  shroud 
is  an  honor  not  to  be  coveted :  your  escape  is  now  the  paramount 
consideration,  for  on  that  depends  not  only  your  own  safety,  but 
probably  that  of  your  daughter  and  niece,  to  say  nothing  of  Father 
Ledra,  who  would,  perhaps,  scarcely  come  to  harm  in  any  event." 

"  It  is  very  true,"  said  the  baron,  "  and  I  will  follow  your  direc- 
tions :  but  a  word  now  on  the  subject  of  these  children.  Deeply  as 
I  regret  that  I  encumbered  myself  with  them  on  this  journey,  some- 
thing must  be  done,  if  possible,  for  their  safety  and  rescue.  I  had 
my  views  in  transplanting  Blanche  to  my  western  home,  but  of 
these  it  is  unnecessary  now  to  speak ;  with  her  illness  on  the  voyage, 
her  frequent  sadness,  and  her  singular  sentiments,  she  has  thus  far 
been  only  a  source  of  trouble  to  me — and  now " 

A  look  of  surprise  and  scorn  had  gradually  stolen  over  the  face  of 
the  commander,  who,  at  length,  suddenly  interrupted  the  other : 

"  Speak  you  of  your  daughter,  my  lord  ?"  he  said. 

"I  speak  of  my  daughter,  Captain  Sill;  and  if  time  permitted,  I 
might,  perhaps,  tell  you  why  it  is  that  she  has  so  little  of  the  spirit 
of  a  Montaigne,  and  possesses  feelings  so  little  congenial  with 
mine." 

"  Let  us  change  this  subject,  my  lord ;  I  see  in  your  daughter 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  5 

only  a  being  of  unequalled  beauty  and  grace,  modest,  reserved,  and 
melancholy ;  if  she  has  demerits,  let  me  not  hear  them,  and  least  of 
all  from  you." 

"  As  you  please.  Captain  Sill :  I  am  somewhat  old  to  be  reproved, 
either  by  word  or  look,  in  a  matter  of  which  I  must  necessarily  be 
the  most  competent  judge.  But  Blanche's  present  safety  is  probably 
sufficiently  insured  :  ladies  are  not  made  prisoners  of  war,  or  if 
nominally  so,  are  subject  to  no  rigor ;  and  Father  Ledra,  who  has 
both  her  and  Emily  in  charge,  will  doubtless  be  able  to  provide  a 
home  for  them,  without  disclosing  their  names  or  rank,  until  such 
time  as  I  can  provide  for  their  rescue." 

Montaigne  turned  away,  and  the  commander  gazed  after  him  a 
moment  in  silence. 

"  Safety  indeed  !"  he  exclaimed,  "  and  in  the  profligate  court  of 
Lord  Cornbury ;  it  is  the  safety  of  the  dove  in  the  eagle's  eyrie." 

So  saying,  he  proceeded  to  knock  at  the  door  of  an  mner  cabin, 
and,  in  response  to  the  bidding  from  within,  opened  it,  and  stood  in 
the  presence  of  the  object  of  his  solicitude. 

Of  Blanche  Montaigne,  a  few  woi'ds  of  description  must  for  the 
present  suffice.  A  httle  above  the  medium  height  of  her  sex,  she 
was  still  of  that  delicate  and  gTacehd  mould  which  gives  somewhat 
of  a  petite  appearance  to  the  person.  Although  her  features  were 
singularly  symmetrical  and  striking,  her  face  and  neck  of  an  infantile 
delicacy  of  texture  and  hue,  her  hair  redundant  in  rich  glossy  curls, 
and  her  eyes  of  the  purest  blue,  her  beauty  consisted  even  less  in 
these  than  in  the  sweet  expression,  which,  while  it  illumined  her 
whole  countenance,  might  be  said  to  dwell  with  more  enduring  per- 
manence upon  her  hps.  It  is  to  these  flexile  features,  indeed,  ever 
silently  depicting  the  emotions  within,  that  the  human  face  is  chiefly 
indebted  for  its  character  as  an  index  of  the  heart.  Ever  legible, 
whether  for  good  or  evil,  they  speak  while  the  voice  is  silent,  and 
while  even  the  eye  is  in  comparative  repose.  In  Blanche,  they 
told  of  all  pure  and  gentle    affections,  of  mirthfulness,  modesty, 


6  THE      KINO      OF      THE      HURONS. 

timidity,  truth — yet  of  mingling  sadness  and  disquiet  now,  wliicli 
still  seemed  but  a  lingering  cloud,  bright  itself  with  the  effulgence  it 
concealed. 

The  companion  of  Miss  Montaigne  was  a  lady  of  about  thirty 
years,  possessing  little  claim  even  to  the  remembrance  of  beauty,  yet 
dressed  with  an  elaborate  care  which  manifested  a  disposition  to  eke 
out  her  slender  stock  of  charms  by  adventitious  aid.  Her  counte- 
nance was  by  no  means  repulsively  homely  ;  its  parts,  indeed,  were 
separately  good,  yet  they  seemed,  so  to  speak,  ill-assorted,  and  lack- 
ing that  harmony  of  proportion  which  appeals  so  powerfully  to  the 
eye,  and  compels  the  meed  of  admiration.  Yet  Emily  Roselle, 
favored  by  that  compensating  principle  which  everywhere  prevails^ 
was  in  part  remunerated  for  the  want  of  a  pleasing  face  by  a  fine 
figure,  and  a  natural  ease  and  grace  of  manner ;  and  but  for  a  slight 
deficiency  of  good  sense  and  good  nature,  would  have  been  not  a 
little  attractive. 

A  third  person  who  was  seated  in  the  cabin  when  Captain  Sill 
entered,  and  who  had  apparently  been  reading  to  the  young  ladies 
from  a  volume  which  lay  open  before  him,  was  the  individual 
spoken  of  by  Montaigne  as  Father  Ledra.  He  was  a  man  of  about 
sixty  years,  with  an  aspect  singularly  benign  and  25leasing  ;  there 
was,  indeed,  no  mistaking  the  genuine  goodness  which  shone  in 
every  hneament  of  his  face,  and  gleamed,  like  the  light  of  truth, 
from  his  large  grey  eyes.  Father  Ledra  was  a  Christian  in  the 
strongest  sense  of  that  significant  word.  His  saintly  reputation  was 
well  known  to  Captain  Sill,  who,  after  saluting  him  with  marked 
deference,  addressed  himself  to  the  younger  lady,  and  briefly 
informed  her  of  the  means  that  were  being  taken  for  her  father's 
safety. 

"  A  few  hours,"  he  continued,  "  and  we  shall  at  least  be  relieved 
from  the  perils  of  famine  and  shipwreck,  and  as  to  everything 
beyond,  we  must  hope  for  the  best." 

"  Say,  rather,  we  must  trust  to  that  same  guiding  hand  which  has 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  7 

thus  far  preserved  us,"  interposed  the  priest ;  "  three  days  since  we 
little  dreamed  of  even  this  relief  from  the  dangers  which  threatened 
us." 

The  commander  bowed  and  continued,  still  addressing  Miss  Mon- 
taigne : 

"  Your  father,  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  importance  to 
his  sovereign  of  his  personal  safety,  is  engrossed  with  preparations 
for  escape  :  he  has,  I  believe,  communicated  to  Father  Ledra  his 
plans  in  your  behalf,  or — or  is  about  so,  to  do." 

It  was  an  embarrassing  position  to  stand  as  the  apologist  of  a  cold 
and  selfish  parent  before  a  neglected  child,  and  the  mounting  color 
on  the  cheek  of  Blanche  told  the  mortification  which  she  experienced 
at  such  a  necessity. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  she  replied,  hesitatingly ;  ^'  everything,  I  believe, 
is  left  to  the  discretion  of  Father  Ledra,  and  we  are  commended  to 
his  counsel  and  guidance." 

"  Uncle,  in  short,  confides  us  to  Pro\idence  and  the  priest,"  said 
Miss  Roselle,  "  but  seems  to  think  something  more  is  requisite  for 
himself  and  the  interests  of  France." 

A  look  of  reproach  from  Miss  Montaigne  mterrupted  her  cousin, 
and  if  aught  could  be  judged  from  the  countenance  of  the  latter, 
prevented  a  still  severer  invective.  The  commander  hastened  to 
take  up  the  conv^ersation,  and  having  bestowed  such  advice  and 
encouragement  as  seemed  appropriate,  withdrew  to  his  more  legiti- 
mate duties.  The  vessel,  meanwhile,  by  the  aid  of  such  expedients 
as  her  dismantled  state  still  afforded,  was  progressing  on  her  sinuous 
route  towards  the  city,  which  her  thinned  crew,  wearied  with  unre- 
mitting labor,  gazed  gladly  upon  in  the  distance,  heedless  of  its 
hostile  character,  and  even  of  the  prison  homes  which  they  had 
reason  to  expect. 


THE     KING      OF     THE     HURONS. 


CHAPTER    II. 

"  The  mighty  monarch  of  the  tribes  that  roam 

A  thousand  forests,  and  on  countless  streams 
Urge  the  swift  bark,  anS  dare  the  cataract's  foam." — Mrs.  Sigoumey, 

The  Baron  Montaigne  had  long  been  a  resident  of  French  Ame- 
rica. An  impaned  fortune  had  originally  induced  him  to  serve  his 
sovereign  in  the  New  World,  and  long  habit  had  rendered  pleasing 
what  his  increased  wealth  no  longer  made  necessary.  About  a 
year  preceding  his  first  arrival  in  Canada,  and  nearly  sixteen  years 
prior  to  the  time  now  spoken  of,  he  had  been  bereaved  of  his  wife, 
an  English  lady  of  gi'eat  merit,  which,  however,  had  failed  of  its 
appreciation  at  the  hands  of  her  haughty  lord.  His  infant  daughter, 
then  scarcely  three  years  of  age,  had  been  confided  to  the  charge  of 
a  kind  maternal  aunt  in  England,  with  whom  she  had  resided  until 
the  death  of  the  latter,  which  occurred  when  Blanche  had  attained 
the  age  of  eighteen.  A  peculiarity  of  disposition  and  a  desire  to 
shun  society,  which  in  his  impoverished  state  imposed  many  mortifi- 
cations upon  his  proud  spirit,  had  tempted  him  into  the  very  depths 
of  the  wilderness,  where,  by  the  liberahty  of  his  sovereign,  he  was 
enabled  to  erect  a  castle  of  no  mean  pretensions  both  to  elegance 
and  strength.  The  Indian  warriors  saw  with  surprise  its  turreted 
walls  and  frowning  battlements  arising  amidst  their  forest  solitudes, 
and  marvelled  deeply  at  the  magnificence  of  their  great  father  across 
the  water,  who  could  bestow  such  state  and  wealth  even  on  his  inferior 
nobles.  The  section  of  country  thus  selected  for  a  residence  by  Mon- 
taigne was  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  southwest  of  Quebec,  on 
the  border  of  a  stream  which  constitutes  the  outlet  of  Lake  Cham  plain, 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  9 

and  in  a  vast  and  unsubdued  wilderness,  wliich  rather  divided  the 
French  and  English  territories  than  formed  a  distinct  part  of  either. 
Boundary  hues,  indeed,  were  drawn  with  no  accuracy  in  those  early 
days,  on  a  continent  which  was  settled  only  on  its  edges,  but  at  a 
later  period  they  became  the  subject  of  much  controversy.  Wars, 
when  waged,  were  rather  for  the  sovereignty  of  the  settlements  and 
the  nominal  conquest  of  vast  inland  regions,  of  which  little  was 
known  by  either  of  the  belligerent  powers,  excepting  that  they 
stretched  over  a  given  number  of  degi'ees  of  latitude  and  longitude. 
The  Huron  and  Algonquin  Indians  had  long  been  allies  of  the 
French,  as  the  Five  Nations  were  of  the  English ;  and  so  important 
did  Louis  consider  their  continued  friendship  to  the  welfare  of  his 
American  dominions,  that  no  pains  were  spared  to  cement  the 
aUiance.  It  was  this  purpose,  and  the  additional  hope  of  winning 
over  the  Iroquois  to  his  allegiance,  and  thus  paving  the  Avay  for  a 
complete  conquest  of  New  York,  that  had  actuated  the  monarch  in 
the  endowment  of  Castle  Montaigne,  and  the  hberal  support  of  its 
secluded  lord.  The  baron,  on  his  part,  left  no  means  untried  to  gain 
the  full  confidence  and  respect  of  the  savages, — an  object  of  no  diffi- 
cult attainment  to  a  hardy  soldier,  who  was  capable  of  setting  exam- 
ples both  of  bravery  and  fortitude  even  to  their  veteran  warriors. 

The  Hurons,  who  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Quebec,  and  on  the 
banks  of  the  Sorelle,  were  colonies  of  the  principal  nation  of  that 
name,  whose  home  and  hunting  grounds  were  much  further  west ; 
they  had  been  transplanted  early  in  the  preceding  century  by  the 
influence  of  their  European  allies,  and  had  themselves  gTown  into  a 
considerable  tribe,  having  one  village  near  the  French  capital,  and 
another  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Castle  Montaigne,  where  their 
territorial  possessions  were  extensive.  The  parent  tribe  were  also  in 
league  with  France,  and  paid  willing  fealty  to  King  Louis,  in  the 
person  of  his  valiant  agent,  who  had  spent  many  months  among 
them,  had  given  them  many  valued  lessons  in  the  art  of  war,  and 
had  led  them  to  several  victorious  fields  against  their  oppressive 

1* 


10  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

neighbors  of  tlie  west.  So  completely  had  he  won  the  hearts  of  the 
bold  savages,  that  they  had  formally  elected  him  the  principal  chief 
of  their  nation,  denominating  him,  in  imitation  of  his  own  sovereign's 
title,  a  king,  and  enjoining  upon  their  brethren  nearer  the  seaboard 
also  to  recognise  him  as  such, — a  mandate  which  the  junior  tribe, 
equally  impressed  with  his  prowess,  and  proud  of  his  alliance,  zeal- 
ously obeyed. 

But  it  was  not  by  martial  prowess  alone  that  the  hearts  of  the 
Indians  were  always  most  effectually  won :  King  Louis,  at  least,  had 
reason  to  acknowledge  the  efficacy  of  a  very  different  warfare  in 
gaining  their  allegiance.  The  heralds  of  the  Gospel  were  already 
scattered  everywhere  through  the  French  settlements,  and  had  pene- 
trated in  some  instances  to  the  most  remote  corners  of  the  land. 
The  cross  had  glistened  at  intervals  along  that  whole  vast  circuit  of 
waters  which  stretches  from  Quebec  to  the  gulf  of  the  MississijDpi, 
and  not  one  of  its  golden  links  of  lake  and  river  but  had  furnished 
the  baptismal  element  for  some  dusky  neophyte  of  the  ^\^lderness. 
Self-denying  men,  bound  by  holy  vows,  but  more  by  untiring  love 
and  unfaltering  faith,  dared,  aye,  courted  martyrdom  in  every  shape, 
that  they  might  gain  souls  to  Christ.  Of  these,  one  or  more  were 
always  stationed  at  the  castle,  where  their  time  was  devoted  not 
only  directly  to  their  calling,  but,  accessary  to  the  same  general  end, 
to  the  secular  education  of  such  of  the  Indian  youth  as  could  be 
induced  to  submit  to  the  restraints  of  study.  It  was  to  join  this 
spiritual  cohort,  as  a  resident  missionary  at  the  castle,  that  Father 
Ledra  had  crossed  the  ocean,  patiently  enduring  privation,  and 
softening  by  his  unobtrusive  piety  the  prejudices  against  his  church, 
with  which  a  Protestant  education  had  imbued  both  Blanche  and 
Emily. 

Seventeen  long  years  the  baron  had  sojourned  in  his  new  home ; 
long  at  least  they  seemed  to  the  gentle  girl,  who  had  been  taught 
her  daily  lesson  of  affection  for  an  absent  parent,  and  had  spent  a 
thousand  hours  of  childish  wonder  and  expectation,  in  \iew  of  that 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  11 

great  event,  to  which,  from  the  first  days  of  her  remembered  life, 
she  had  been  taught  to  look  forward — her  father's  retiun. 

Montaigne  had,  meanwhile,  contented  himself  with  receiving  annual 
letters  fi'om  his  sister-in-law,  giving  information  of  Blanche's  welfare ; 
his  answers  to  which,  always  cold  and  formal,  seldom  contained  any 
direct  message  to  his  daughter,  even  after  she  had  attained  years  of 
discretion.  The  remembrance  of  some  unforgiven  wrong  on  the 
part  of  the  mother  seemed  to  hang  for  ever  like  a  cloud  between  the 
baron  and  his  child.  It  was  not,  indeed,  without  a  degree  of  plea- 
sure that  he  read  in  all  Mrs.  Roselle's  letters  accounts  of  Blanche's 
extraordinary  beauty  and  grace,  of  her  mild  and  gentle  disposition, 
and  of  her  well  cultivated  and  well  stored  mind  ;  but  if,  at  times,  he 
felt  a  longing  to  reclaim  his  child,  the  consciousness  of  circumstances 
which  must  humble  himself  in  her  estimation  continually  intervened, 
to  'chill  and  deaden  all  his  better  resolutions.  Pride  was  his 
master  passion,  and  its  baleful  glare  fell  ^Wth  a  withering  effect 
upon  all  the  gentler  emotions  of  his  nature.  Beneath  its  con- 
geahng  blight,  a  young  and  innocent  wife  had  passed  speedily  fi'om 
the  altar  to  the  tomb ;  and  well  had  it  been  for  Blanche  that  the 
unfolding  wealth  of  her  young  affections  had  not  been  chilled  and 
repressed  by  its  cold  commands  or  its  still  colder  caresses. 

The  event  to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  as  one  for  which  Mon- 
taigne dreaded  his  daughter's  scorn,  as  he  had  long  endm-ed  his 
own,  related  to  his  existing  domestic  establishment.  A  powerful 
Huron  warrior  had  early  sought  his  aUiance,  and  a  dowry  of  mea- 
sureless acres  had  purchased  the  simulated  affections  of  the  baron 
for  the  trembling  daughter  of  the  chief.  They  were  married  after 
the  savage  mode,  while  the  wily  gi-oom  smiled  at  the  simphcity  of 
his  allies,  and  recked  lightly  of  the  fetters  which  bound  him  to  the 
Indian  maid.  She  was  not  his  wife,  so  thought  the  haughty  noble, 
for  no  sacramental  tie  existed  between  them,  no  priest  had  sanc- 
tioned their  union,  no  permission  of  Holy  Church  had  made  it 
vahd.     Little  did  these  things  weigh  wth  the  trusting  vnie,  who 


12  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

became  to  him  a  faithful  and  affectionate  partner,  watching  and 
obeying  in  all  things  the  faintest  token  of  his  ^vill,  and  submitting  to 
all  the  tramphngs  of  his  imperious  temper  without  a  murmur. 
One  gentle  word,  one  kind  smile,  repaid  her  for  every  wrong,  and 
formed  a  treasure  for  memory  to  resort  to,  during  all  the  long  inter- 
vals of  coldness  and  neglect  and  scorn.  Hers  w^as,  indeed,  that 
perfect  love  of  woman,  which  exists  alike  in  every  clime.  The 
baron,  conscious  that  rumors  of  his  strange  alliance  must  reach 
Quebec,  and  thence  pass  to  France,  took  every  occasion  to  deny  its 
truth,  and  to  censure  the  detractors  who  cast  such  obloquy  upon  his 
ancient  family ;  but  circumstances  soon  occurred  which  made  it  a 
more  serious  affair  than  he  had  anticipated.  It  became  necessary 
to  obtain  the  royal  confirmation  to  the  grant  which  had  been  made 
by  the  chief  to  his  perfidious  son-in-law,  and  Louis,  who  had 
received  tidings  of  the  whole  affair,  refused  to  confirm  the  deed  until 
the  marriage  had  been  celebrated  according  to  the  rites  of  the 
church.  He  went,  indeed,  further  than  this,  and  threatened  his 
distinguished  subject  with  his  displeasure  and  punishment  if  he 
refused  to  ratify  the  contract  with  his  Indian  spouse.  No  words  can 
describe  the  anger  and  mortification  of  Montaigne  at  this  unex- 
pected result ;  and,  in  the  privacy  of  his  retirement,  he  denounced 
the  aged  king  as  a  drivelling  dotard,  fit  only  to  govern  women  and 
priests.  But  rage  and  remonstrance  were  alike  unavailing  to  nullify 
the  decree,  and  with  the  most  galling  sense  of  degradation  he  at 
length  submitted  to  its  requirements.  In  a  chapel  adjacent  to  the 
castle,  the  wedding  was  publicly  solemnized,  and  an  infant  daughter 
of  the  bride,  who  shared  with  her  mother  the  contempt  of  the 
baron,  was  at  the  same  time  admitted  to  the  rite  of  baptism.  The 
baroness,  for  such  had  now  become  her  legitimate  title,  became 
thenceforth  a  personage  of  additional  importance  in  the  eyes  of  her 
dusky  relations,  and,  it  need  scarcely  be  said,  an  object  of  renewed 
hatred  to  her  husband.  Nothing  could  atone  to  him  for  the 
wounded  vanity  of  which  she  had  been  the  guiltless  cause  ;   and  all 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  13 

her  unobtrusive  affection,  all  her  silent  watchings  for  tokens  of 
returning  kindness,  were  repaid  with  increased  coldness  and  scorn. 
She  was  a  cloud  upon  his  heart,  a  bhght  upon  his  hopes,  a  barrier 
betwixt  himself  and  that  bright  world  from  which  he  had  long  been 
immured,  and  to  which  he  now  felt  that  he  never  could  return. 

But  many  changes  had  taken  place  between  that  period  and  the 
point  of  time  at  which  the  present  narrative  opens.  The  little 
Myrtle,  for  such  had  been  the  baptismal  name  bestowed  rather  by 
the  priest  than  the  parent,  had  grown  to  be  a  miracle  of  forest 
beauty ;  and  as  the  tendrils  of  the  vine  cHng  to  the  rock,  so  had  her 
infantile  graces  gained  a  foothold  in  the  crevices  of  the  baron's  stony 
heart.  Despite  his  pride,  his  imagined  wrongs,  his  tarnished  name, 
he  had  loved  his  daughter  ;  and  the  neglected  mother,  who  had  long 
despaired  of  any  returning  tenderness  for  herself,  was  still  delighted 
to  enjoy  the  reflected  beams  of  kindness  which  fell  upon  her  child. 
She  exulted  in  Myrtle's  beauty  and  grace,  and  watched  every  word 
and  look  of  love  bestowed  upon  her,  with  an  avarice  of  aftection  that 
none  but  a  mother's  heart  can  parallel. 

Years  rolled  by ;  and  the  baron,  who  had  long  been  fully  rein- 
stated in  his  sovereign's  confidence,  had  become  so  engrossed  in  the 
duties  of  his  station,  and  in  his  growing  wealth  and  power,  that  he 
scarcely  remembered  the  existence  of  Blanche,  excepting  when  perus- 
ing the  letters  from  her  aunt,  or  remitting  the  annual  stipend  for 
her  support.  ISIyrtle  attained  her  sixteenth  year,  a  slight,  straight 
girl,  with  eyes  and  hair  of  unrelieved  blackness,  with  long  silken 
lashes,  and  cheeks  in  which  the  rose  of  Europe  triumphed  over  the 
olive  hue  of  the  forest.  She  was,  in  short,  a  beautiful  brunette, 
sportive  as  the  fawn,  and  scarcely  less  agile. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  events  occurred  which  marked  an  epoch 
in  the  life  of  Montaigne,  and  which  were  productive  of  important 
results  to  all  with  whom  he  was  immediately  connected.  Political 
movements  relating  to  the  colony  required  his  presence  in  France, 
and  the  same  arrival  which  brouo-ht  his  sovereio'n's  summons  for  his 


i 


14  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

return,  conveyed  to  him  the  intelHgence  of  Mrs.  Roselle's  death,  and 
of  the  homeless  situation  of  Blanche.  He  repaired  to  Quebec,  and 
while  awaiting  the  sailing  of  the  ship  which  was  to  convey  him  to 
Ha\Te,  sojourned  with  liis  friend,  the  aged  Marquis  Vaudreuil,  who 
was  then  viceroy  of  New  France,  and  to  whose  exalted  post,  when  it 
should  become  vacant,  the  baron  expected  promotion.  Here  he 
became  acquainted  with  a  nephew  of  the  go^'ernor,  one  Count  Carl- 
ton, a  young  man  of  prepossessing  person  and  mannei-s,  of  whom 
the  marquis  spoke  in  terms  of  the  warmest  eulogy.  Rank,  wealth, 
wit,  valor,  and  every  accomplishment,  if  the  governor's  word  was  to 
be  taken,  belonged  to  this  extraordinary  man,  who  had  fled  from  the 
gaieties  of  Parisian  life  to  seek  excitement  and  adventure  in  the  new 
world.  Himself  deceived,  Vaudreuil  httle  dreamed  how  erroneous  a 
portraiture  he  had  drawn  of  his  nephew,  who  was,  in  fact,  a  mere 
adventurer,  bankrupt  in  purse  and  reputation,  and  totally  devoid  of 
principle.  He  had  recently  arrived  in  the  colony,  and  by  the  pro- 
foundest  dissimulation  had  gained  the  good  graces  of  his  uncle, 
which  he  hoped  by  some  means  to  transmute  into  the  current  coin 
of  the  realm.  Montaigne's  great  wealth  and  political  importance  of 
course  made  him  also  a  desirable  acquaintance  for  the  scheming 
youth ;  and,  long  fasting  from  the  adulation  and  deference  which 
his  exorbitant  vanity  craved,  he  became  a  ready  dupe  to  the 
specious  flatteries  of  the  count.  If  he  had  up  to  this  period  hesi- 
tated" about  bringing  home  Blanche  on  his  return  from  France,  he 
no  longer  did  so.  Here,  he  argued  to  himself,  was  a  ready  way  of 
disposing  of  her  in  marriage,  and  at  once  relieving  his  mind  of  its 
responsibility  in  her  behalf.  So  strongly  did  this  idea  take  possession 
of  his  mind,  that,  on  parting  with  his  friends,  he  repeated  an  in^'ita- 
tion  which  he  had  already  extended  to  Carlton,  to  visit  Castle  Mon- 
taigne after  his  own  return  from  Europe  ;  and  added,  in  a  jocular 
way,  that  he  had  a  marriageable  daughter,  and  if  the  young  people 
should  chance  to  fancy  each  other,  he  would  not  object  to  the  alli- 
ance.    The  marquis  bowed  coldly  at  this  remark,  which  he  sus- 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  15 

pected  to  be  more  than  jest,  for,  knoT\^ng  nothing  of  Blanche,  he 
supposed  it  to  allude  to  Myrtle,  and  he  thought  it  a  poor  compliment 
to  a  gallant  for  whom  half  the  belles  of  Paris  were  pining,  to  be 
offered  the  hand  of  a  half  Huron  maid,  and  who  was  even  legitimate 
only  by  the  royal  grace.  But  it  was  in  the  moment  of  departure, 
and  Montaigne  did  not  dream  of  the  erroneous  construction  which 
was. put  upon  his  language.  If,  however,  the  Marquis  Vaudreuil 
derided  the  proposal  of  his  friend,  it  was  not  so  with  Carlton,  who, 
while  seeming  to  outdo  his  uncle  in  making  sport  of  the  affair, 
secretly  resolved  to  visit  Castle  Montaigne  during  the  absence  of  its 
lord,  and  acquaint  himself  with  the  Indian  heiress. 

The  baron  reached  Paris  in  safety,  and  thence,  while  awaiting  the 
tardy  action  of  the  French  cabinet,  despatched  a  letter  to  England, 
whither  he  could  not  safely  proceed  in  person,  summoning  his 
daughter  to  meet  him,  by  an  appointed  day,  at  the  neutral  port  of 
Ostend,  and  notifying  her  of  his  intentions  in  regard  to  her  change 
of  abode.  Although  the  stiff  and  frigid  sentences  in  which  this 
intelligence  was  conveyed  were  almost  sufficient  to  repress  the  fihal 
promptings  of  her  heart,  Blanche  was  still  delighted  at  the  news  ;  for 
her  home,  since  the  death  of  her  aunt,  had  been  of  the  most  comfort- 
less description,  and  she  was  prepared  to  welcome  any  change  which 
gave  promise  of  relief.  She  was  authorized  to  procure  a  maid,  or 
companion,  if  practicable  ;  and  this  privilege  resulted  in  the  selection 
of  her  cousin  Emily,  less  from  any  congeniality  of  feehng  between 
them,  than  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  the  nearly  destitute  daughter  of 
her  deceased  aunt.  Miss  Roselle  gladly  accepted  the  proposal,  for 
she  possessed  the  most  romantic  views  of  life,  despite  the  dull  realities 
to  which  her  experience  had  been  confined,  and  the  new  world 
seemed  to  her  only  a  field  for  the  exploits  of  chivalry,  and  the 
triumphs  of  distressed  beauty.  She  was  of  good  family,  and  her 
lineal  claim  to  gentility  was  a  subject  on  which  her  friends  were 
seldom  left  unenUghtened.  That  these  advantages  would  be  of  vast 
importance  in  her  new  home  she  did  not  allow  herself  to  doubt,  and 


► 


16  THE      KIXG      OF      THE      HURONS. 

as  all  the  family  finery  had  devolved  upon  her,  she  was  able,  not- 
withstanding her  poverty,  to  fortify  her  pretensions  by  a  display  of 
dress  and  ornament  often  more  gaudy  than  becoming. 

A  week  sufficed  for  the  needful  preparations,  and  when  everything 
was  in  readiness  the  ladies  proceeded  to  a  neighboring  seaport,  and 
took  passage  for  Ostend,  where  they  arrived  prior  to  the  appointed 
day,  and  awaited  the  coming  of  their  distinguished  relative.  ^  He 
did  not  prove  unpunctual ;  and  although  his  arrival  was  with  that 
ceremony  of  equipage  and  attendants  which  might  be  supposed 
gratifying  to  a  young  lady,  Blanche's  mind  was  engi'ossed  by  emo- 
tions which  left  little  room  for  vanity.  The  interview  was  singularly 
awkward  and  embarrassing ;  and  the  frightened  daughter,  after 
several  ineffectual  attempts  to  break  through  the  air  of  stateliness 
and  reserve  which  encompassed  her  parent,  submitted  at  length 
silently  to  its  influence.  Time,  she  thought,  would  work  a  change, 
and  nature  yet  re-assert  its  power  in  her  father's  breast.  Visions  of 
artless  devices,  by  which  she  would  win  his  attention  and  regard, 
passed  rapidly  through  her  mind,  and  she  looked  forward  with  joy 
to  the  anticipated  light  of  affection  which  was  yet  to  beam  upon  her 
long  desolate  heart.  But,  as  there  had  been  no  pretence  of  consult- 
ing her  wishes  in  relation  to  the  proposed  change  in  her  life,  the 
timid  girl  scarcely  felt  at  liberty  to  give  expression  to  her  feelings, 
and  the  father  saw  in  her  silence  only  signs  of  moroseness  and  dis- 
satisfaction. 

The  party  set  out  at  once  for  Paris,  where  they  arrived  in  a  few 
days,  and  where  Miss  Roselle  fully  expected  to  be  snatched  up  by 
some  ardent  admirer  before  the  baron  was  ready  to  resume  his 
journey.  This  event  not  occuning,  they  proceeded,  after  about  a 
month's  delay,  to  Havre,  and,  in  company  with  the  missionary  priest, 
Father  Ledra,  embarked  in  the  doomed  St.  Cloud,  for  Quebec.  Of 
the  wTcck  and  suffering  which  forced  that  ill-fated  vessel  to  seek 
shelter  in  an  enemy's  port,  the  reader  is  already  aware. 


KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  l7 


CHAPTER     III. 

*'  Torn  spars  and  sails,  her  cargo  in  the  deep, 
The  ship  draws  near  with  slow  and  laboring  sweep."— iJaTia. 

It  was  quite  too  bad  to  leave  the  crippled  brig  tossing  upon  the 
tempestuous  waves  of  the  bay  of  New  York  during  so  long  a  retro- 
spective chapter ;  but  it  all  comes  of  beginning  a  story  at  the  wrong 
end,  or  rather,  of  beginning  it  in  the  middle, — a  plan  which,  although 
it  has  classic  precept  and  example  for  its  authority,  remains  of  doubt- 
ful utility.  As  the  vessel  had  approached  the  harbor,  the  fears  of 
Miss  Montaigne  had  rapidly  increased.  She  knew  enough  of  the 
peculiar  attitude  in  which  her  father  stood  in  relation  to  the  English 
colonies,  as  the  ally  of  the  northern  Indians,  and  the  supposed  insti- 
gator of  many  of  their  atrocities,  to  understand  that  his  hfe  was  now 
in  extreme  peril ;  and  notwithstanding  his  unreserved  selfishness,  she 
felt  the  utmost  solicitude  for  his  escape.  Captain  Sill  assembled  his 
officers  and  crew,  and  imposed  upon  them  the  strictest  secresy  in 
relation  to  the  distinguished  passenger  who  now  stood  among  them 
as  one  of  their  number,  and  the  baron  strengthened  the  appeal  by  a 
handsome  gratuity  to  the  men.  The  young  ladies  were  to  pass  as 
sisters,  bearing  the  name  of  Roselle,  who  were  travelHng  in  charge 
of  Father  Ledra  to  their  fi-iends  in  Canada,  a  fiction  diverging  at  so 
slight  an  angle  from  the  truth,  that  the  priest,  although  he  would 
by  no  means  consent  to  assert,  agreed  not  to  contradict  it. 

The  piers  of  the  city,  meanwhile,  had  become  populous  with  an 
eager  crowd,  watching  the  approach  of  the  vessel,  and  speculating 
with  every  variety  of  opinion  upon  the  extraordinary  event.     Not  a 


18 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS 


^ 


few  were  peering  eagerly  down  the  bay  in  search  of  the  remainder 
of  the  fleet,  which  they  fully  believed  was  about  to  make  its  appear- 
ance in  a  hostile  attitude ;  and  a  classic  old  Dutchman,  who  had  not 
been  at  the  imiversity  of  Gottingen  for  nothing,  talked  mysteriously 
about  the  Grecian  horse,  fatal  to  trusting  Troy,  and  doubted,  between 
some  most  ominous  whiffs  of  his  pipe,  whether  the  St.  Cloud  were  a 
wrecked  vessel  at  all.  It  was  an  easy  matter,  he  said,  to  cut  down 
masts  and  break  away  bulkheads,  and  come  rolling  sideways  into 
port  in  a  storm,  and  yet  have  a  thousand  armed  soldiers  stowed 
away  in  the  hold,  after  all.  Not  that  he  cared  much  whether  Louis 
or  Queen  Anne  held  a  city  to  which  neither  of  them  had  any  right, 
but  the  destruction  of  life  and  property,  he  said,  glancing  at  a  six- 
sided  store-house  of  his  own  upon  the  wharf,  was  a  thing  not  to  be 
disregarded.  A  number  of  listeners  turned  pale  at  these  remarks, 
and  some  suggested  calling  out  the  militia  and  the  fire-engines  for 
the  defence  of  the  city ;  while  others  thought  the  guns  of  the  fort 
ought  to  be  fired  into  the  wreck,  without  delay,  by  way  of  ascer- 
taining the  truth  of  the  suspicions.  But,  as  the  troops  from  the  fort 
at  this  moment  made  their  appearance,  ha\ing  been  ordered  out  to 
keep  the  peace  and  prevent  the  escape  of  the  prisoners,  it  was  con- 
sidered safe  to  quietly  await  the  denouement^  the  more  prudent 
retirino-  a  httle  into  the  back-o;round. 

Governor  Cornbury,  in  the  meantime,  with  several  members  of 
his  council,  prepared  to  pay  an  official  \'isit  to  the  strangers.  He 
exulted  at  the  accident,  because  the  vessel  and  its  stores  world 
prove  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  colony  and  to  his  j^rivato  purse ; 
but  he  had  no  intention  of  detracting  from  these  advantages,  by 
burdening  the  government  with  the  expense  of  maintaining  a  large 
number  of  prisoners  of  war.  The  unfortunate  captain,  ha\ing  dropped 
anchor  at  a  little  distance  from  shore,  received  his  visitors  upon  his 
quarter-deck  with  great  urbanity,  and  tendering  his  sword  to  the 
governor,  formally  surrendered  his  ship ;  while  Cornbury,  equalling 
the   Frenchman  in  politeness,   courteously  dechned   accepting   his 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  19 

weapon,  and  at  once  admitted  the  officers  to  their  parole.  He  next 
requested  that  the  crew  should  be  assembled  amidships,  and  having 
expressed  his  sympathy  for  the  hardships  they  had  already  under- 
gone, signified  that  they  were  to  be  unconditionally  released,  a 
seeming  magnanimity  which  was  responded  to  with  hearty  cheers. 
He  had  addressed  the  men  in  French,  but  with  the  commander,  who 
spoke  English  fluently,  he  conversed  in  that  language,  and  turning 
to  him  now,  inquired  if  he  had  any  passengers. 

"  We  have  a  few  non-combatants  in  the  cabin,"  responded  Sill, 
smiling,  "  a  priest,  and  two  young  ladies  who  are  travelling  in  his 
charge ;  it  will  be  hardly  necessary  to  invoke  your  excellency's 
clemency  in  their  behalf." 

"  Our  laws,"  returned  the  governor,  more  gravely,  "  impose  the 
penalty  of  death  upon  any  Romish  priest  who  shall  voluntarily  enter 
the  province,  and  the  most  that  we  can  do. in  your  friend's  behalf 
will  be  to  allow  him  thirty  days  to  depart.  As  to  the  ladies,  they 
are  allowed  the  largest  liberty  under  all  circumstances.  I  had  almost 
hoped,"  he  continued,  "that  your  accident  might  afford  me  the 
pleasure  of  an  introduction  to  some  of  the  officers  of  His  Majesty's 
colonial  government ;  there  are  pending  differences  between  us  which 
such  an  interview  might  go  far  to  arrange  :  have  I  your  word  of 
honor  that  there  is  no  such  individual  in  your  ship  ?" 

"My  lord,"  replied  Sill, . slightly  coloring,  and  glancing  at  the 
crew,  who  remained  amidships  watching  the  interview,  while  the 
baron's  figure  towered  conspicuously  among  them,  "  my  lord,  the 
individuals  now  before  you,  and  the  three  passengers  below,  are  the 
only  persons  on  board  my  ship — for  this  you  have  my  word  of  honor  ; 
if  you  still  doubt " 

"I  doubt  nothing  that  Captain  Sill  asserts,"  answered  the 
governor,  whose  suspicions  were  aroused  by  the  embarrassed  air  of 
the  other ;  "  but  there  is  something  that  looks  like  mystery  here  ; 
let  me  see  this  priest  of  whom  you  speak  ;  I  much  fear  his  ordination 
has  not  been  strictly  canonical.     Clerical  robes  have  been  used  as 


20  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

disguises  before  now,  and  if  your  friend  does  not  belong  to  the  true 
succession,  Mother  Church  will,  doubtless,  thank  me  for  unmasking 
him." 

"  You  will  scarcely  doubt  Father  Ledra  after  you  have  seen  him," 
said  Sill,  motioning  to  an  officer  to  call  up  the  passengers ;  "  I  wish 
the  church  had  no  representatives  whose  sanctity  is  more  ques- 
tionable." 

A  few  moments'  pause  ensued,  during  which  the  eyes  of  the 
governor  wandered  among  the  crew,  and  seemed  to  fix  inquiringly 
upon  the  prominent  figure  of  the  baron ;  but  a  rustling  in  the  cabin 
gangway,  and  the  appearance  of  the  priest,  accompanied  by  the 
ladies,  at  once  recalled  his  attention.  Miss  Montaigne  was  closely 
veiled,  and  hung  tremblingly  upon  the  arm  of  Father  Ledra ;  while 
Emily,  unalarmed  and  unveiled,  walked  boldly  at  her  cousin's  side, 
and  seemed  bent  on  setting  her  friend  a  pattern  of  courage,  if  not  .of 
modesty.  The  evident  interest  excited  by  the  approach  of  the  ladies 
justified  the  sagacity  of  the  commandant,  who  had  summoned  them 
to  accompany  the  priest  on  deck  with  a  view  to  a  diversion  of  Lord 
Cornbury's  somewhat  dangerous  attack. 

"  Captain  Sill  has  much  misconceived  my  meaning,"  said  the 
governor,  pohtely  removing  his  hat,  "  if  he  understood  me  as  requir- 
ing the  attendance  of  the  ladies  on  deck ;  let  them  return  if  they 
choose,  or  let  them  at  least  be  seated."  . 

"  My  sister  is  much  frightened,"  answered  Miss  Roselle,  hastily, 
and  glancing  at  Blanche,  "  and  is  afraid  to  quit  the  side  of  her  pro- 
tector ;  we  must  be  excused,  therefore,  for  coming  into  your  presence 
unbidden." 

"  I  am  much  beholden  to  Miss  Eoselle's  fears  since  they  procure 
me  the  honor  of  this  inter^^ew,"  returned  Lord  Cornbury,  bowing 
formally  to  the  speaker,  but  scarcely  removing  his  eyes  from  the 
slight  and  graceful  figure  of  her  companion ;  *i^nd  yet,"  he  con- 
tinued, smiling,  "  it  devolves  a  somewhat  unpleasant  duty  upon  me : 
the  commissions  of  liis  ISIost  Christian  Majesty  rest  at  times  upon 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 


21 


very  diminutive  shoulders,  and  a  veil,  excuse  me,  might  possibly 
hide  a  moustache.  Your  sister,  if  such  she  be,  will  doubtless  favor 
us  with  a  view  of  her  face." 

"  Which  will  at  least  be  prima  facie  evidence  in  her  behalf," 
interposed  a  punning  notary,  who  was  in  attendance  in  his  official 
capacity. 

Emily  whispered  a  moment  to  Blanche,  who,  sinking  into  a  seat 
which  had  been  placed  for  her,  drew  aside  her  veil  with  trembling 
hand,  reveahng,  by  the  act,  charms  which  seemed  like  a  gleam  of 
sunlight  to  the  beholders.  Miss  Montaigne's  beauty  was  of  that 
perfect  order  which  admits  of  no  cavil,  even  from  the  lips  of  envy  or 
rivalry ;  it  impressed  the  eye  with  a  whelming  sense  of  lovehness, 
both  in  feature  and  expression,  and  seemed,  as  it  was,  the  reflection 
of  a  gentle  and  unsulhed  heart.  Pale  with  agitation,  her  eyes 
rested  upon  the  deck,  and  it  was  not  until  some  moments  that 
Cornbury,  startled  at  the  pleasing  ^dsion,  recovered  his  self-posses- 
sion. 

"  Here  is  no  soldier,  certainly,"  he  said,  gaily,  "  unless  it  may  be 
a  field  officer  of  Cupid  ;  my  inquisition  is  at  an  end  in  this  quarter, 
and  I  can  only  beg  pardon  of  Miss  Roselle  for  having  given  her 
such  ev-ident  pain.  The  ladies  will  consider  themselves  entirely  at 
liberty." 

The  governor  had  been  surprised  at  the  facility  with  which  Emily 
conversed  in  the  English  language,  and  on  seeking  an  explanation 
from  that  lady,  was  informed  that  both  she  and  her  sister  were 
educated  in  England,  and  were,  on  the  maternal  side,  of  English 
descent.  The  captain's  familiarity  with  the  same  tongue  was  less  a 
matter  of  marvel,  his  profession  being  one  which  rendered  such  an 
acquirement  almost  indispensable.  But  Father  Ledra,  though 
learned  in  the  ancient  tongues,  conversed  only  in  French,  and  Corn- 
bury  was  compelled  to  address  him  in  that  dialect;  but  a  very 
brief  conversation  convinced  the  governor  that  his  suspicions  were 
groundless,  and  he  even  declined  the  proflered  inspection  of  the  lug- 


22  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

gage  of  the  ecclesiastic,  an  inventory  of  vvliicli  would  have  revealed 
httle  else  than  books  of  devotion  and  instruments  of  penance. 

"  I  am  indeed  a  soldier,"  he  said,  when  the  governor's  suspicions 
were  explained  to  him,  raising  his  mild  eyes  upwards,  while  his 
white  locks  fell  hke  snow  upon  his  shoulders  ;  "  I  am  indeed  a  sol- 
dier, Lut  it  is  of  the  cross  of  Christ ;  my  warfare  is  with  spiritual 
enl,  and  my  coat  of  mail,"  pressing  his  hands  upon  his  breast,  "  is 
one  that  inflicts  wounds,  but  does  not  ward  them." 

Lord  Cornbury  was  satisfied  with  his  inquiries,  and  would  have  been 
contented  to  withdraw  at  this  stage  of  the  affair,  lea\ing  the  vessel  in 
charge  of  the  proper  governmental  officer ;  but  another  and  more  dan- 
gerous inquisition  had  unfortunately  been  going  on  for  some  minutes 
previous,  in  a  different  part  of  the  vessel.  Mr.  Attorney  Nabb, 
the  notary,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made,  was  one  of  those  httle, 
restless,  waspish  men,  who  are  never  content  to  act  in  a  subordinate 
capacity ;  and  after  chafing  for  some  time  under  his  forced  restraint, 
he  had  shpped  out  of  the  shadow  of  his  superiors,  for  the  purpose  of 
acting  the  little  gTeat  man  in  another  quarter.  His  field  of  opera- 
tion was  amidships,  where  he  blustered  around  among  the  crew  for 
some  time,  with  no  well  defined  aim  beyond  that  of  impressing  the 
sailors  -with  a  sense  of  his  importance ;  but  after  much  peering  about, 
and  many  wise  looks,  he  came  suddenly  to  a  stand  in  front  of  Mon- 
taigne, and  remained  looking  up  at  the  portly  figure  before  him 
with  a  singular  air  of  admiration  and  contempt.  The  disproportion 
of  physical  power  between  the  two,  which  was  ludicrously  great,  per- 
haps suggested  to  the  pigmy  the  idea  of  disphiying  a  little  official 
authority,  by  way  of  balancing  accounts. 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  he  said,  addi-essing  the  supposed  sailor  in 
French. 

"  Jack  Beans,  if  it  please  yom*  honor,"  said  the  baron,  twirling  his 
cap,  with  an  admirable  appearance  of  embarrassment. 

Nabb  pulled  out  a  pencil  fi'om  his  pocket,  and  noted  down  the 
answer  with  great  granty ;  an  action  which,  of  course,  attracted  the 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  23 

general  attention  of  the  crew,  as  the  attorney  well  knew  it  would, 
and  when  he  next  threw  back  his  head  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
another  question,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  that  Mr.  Jack 
Beans  seemed  a  httle  alarmed.  Several  interrogatories  succeeded  in 
regard  to  the  age,  residence,  and  occupation  of  the  supposed  sailorj 
all  of  which  were  carefully  written  down,  and  the  practised  eye  of  the 
attorney  could  not  fail  to  perceive  at  each  additional  inquiry  renewed 
tokens  of  apprehension.  Satisfied,  however,  at  length,  with  having 
frightened  the  giant  and  displayed  his  own  importance,  he  was 
about  turning  away,  when  his  eye  was  arrested  by  the  edge  of  a  fine 
linen  wristband  protruding  from  beneath  the  coarse  flannel  sleeve  of 
the  sailor's  shirt.  Startled  at  the  sight,  suspicion  at  once  took  pos- 
session of  his  mind,  and  several  minute  circumstances  to  which  he 
had  before  paid  little  heed,  gave  it  confirmation.  Stepping  a  few 
paces  backward,  to  gain  a  better  view  of  the  Frenchman's  head,  he 
noticed  the  soft  and  silky  appearance  of  the  hair,  and  the  fine  face 
and  neck,  which  gave  no  evidence  of  exposure  to  the  sun  ;  while 
Montaigne,  in  the  efifort  to  avoid  quaihng,  had  inadvertently  resumed 
his  usual  air  of  authority,  and  met  the  gaze  of  the  other  with  the 
look  of  a  chained  eagle.  Convinced  that  he  had  stumbled  upon  a 
prize  of  some  kind,  the  attorney's  delight  knew  no  bounds  ;  he  con- 
tinued complacently  gazing  upon  his  victim  for  some  moments, 
running  over  in  his  mind  the  probable  magnitude  of  the  service 
which  he  was  about  to  render  to  government,  and  the  extent  of  his 
reward.  He  must  be,  thought  Nabb,  an  officer  of  the  army  at 
least,  and  possibly  a  nobleman ;  it  might  even  be  the  Marquis  Vau- 
dreuil,  or  one  of  the  royal  family,  or,  for  soaring  fancy  seldom  stops 
midway  in  her  flight,  the  very  majesty  of  France  himself.  Gloating 
over  his  discovery,  he  reached  upwards,  and  tapping  Montaigne  upon 
the  shoulder,  said  : 

"  Lord  Cornbury  has  released  the  creiv  of  the  St.  Cloud,  but  not 
any  officer  or  gentleman  who  sees  fit  to  assume  a  seaman's  dress  : 
Monsieur  will  please  to  consider  himself  under  arrest." 


24  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

So  saying,  he  turned  away  to  inform  the  governor  of  his  discovery, 
but  had  scarcely  communicated  his  information,  before  a  shght 
commotion  was  perceived  amidships,  and  three  figures  bounded  over 
the  gunwale,  and  descended  the  vessel's  side.  The  boat  by  which 
the  governor  and  his  suite  had  approached  the  ship  was  waiting  at 
the  foot  of  the  man-ropes,  the  waterman  in  whose  charge  it  had 
been  left  having  been  attracted  by  curiosity  on  board  the  vessel. 
A  moment  of  consternation  prevailed,  and  the  attorney,  furious  with 
the  fear  of  losing  his  prize,  seemed  altogether  demented :  shouting, 
"  an  escape  !  stop  him !  stop  him !"  he  flew  rather  than  ran  towards 
the  place  where  the  baron  had  disappeared,  and  caUing  loudly  for 
the  ^^ posse  comitatus''^  to  follow,  he  leaped  upon  the  gimwale.  The 
last  of  the  fugitives  was  at  that  moment  entering  the  skiff,  and  Nabb, 
ghding  down  the  ropes  Hke  a  squirrel,  pitched  into  the  boat,  just  as 
they  had  succeeded  in  casting  her  loose.  Recovering  his  feet,  he 
darted  to  the  side  of  the  stalwart  baron,  and  grasping  him  by  the 
arm,  exclaimed,  "  I  arrest  you  in  the  Queen's  name  !"  but  Montaigne, 
seating  himself  without  reply,  drew  the  little  man  forcibly  to  his  lap, 
and  shouted, 

"  Pull  now  for  your  hves  !  a  thousand  pounds  if  we  escape !" 

The  whole  scene  up  to  this  point  had  occupied  scarcely  thirty 
seconds,  and  the  tumult  and  excitement  on  deck  were  still  too  great 
to  admit  of  any  deliberate  action.  Blanche  had  swooned.  Miss 
Roselle  was  in  hysterics,  and  Captain  Sill,  fearful  of  an  outbreak 
among  his  crew,  was  calling  loudly  to  them  to  remain  quiet.  Lord 
Cornbury  himself  was  far  from  being  self-possessed,  and,  gesticulating 
with  his  sword,  he  called  to  the  commander  of  the  troops  on  the 
adjacent  wharf,  and  ordered  him  to  fire  a  volley  into  the  boat — a 
command  which  was  about  being  executed,  when  a  shriek  of  agony 
from  the  skifi"  arrested  general  attention. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake  don't  let  them  fire,  my  lord,"  exclaimed  one 
of  Cornbury's  companions,  "  it  ^vill  be  certain  death  to  Mr.  Nabb." 

All  eyes  were   turned    towards  the  skiff,  where  the  prominent 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  25 

figure  of  Montaigne,  seated,  facing  tlie  shore,  and  holding  the  strug- 
ghng  attorney  before  him,  hke  a  shield,  was  plainly  visible.  He  was 
near  the  stern  of  the  vessel,  thus  at  the  same  time  protecting  the 
two  sailors,  who  were  bending  meanwhile  lustily  to  their  oars,  while 
the  little  bark  was  making  such  headway  as  the  heavy  billows  would 
allow.  It  was  a  critical  moment ;  the  troops  had  taken  aim,  and 
the  order  to  fire  was  trembling  on  the  lips  of  their  officer,  when  a 
reluctant  countermand  from  the  governor  brought  down  their  guns. 
Boats  were  next  in  requisition  for  the  chase,  but  the  advantage  of 
the  start,  and  the  desperate  \igor  of  the  fugitives,  left  little  to  fear 
from  the  pursuit  of  oars  alone,  and  before  a  sail-boat  could  be  pro- 
cured and  got  under  weigh  they  were  well  out  from  the  land. 
Sagaciously  taking  a  route  nearly  in  the  wind's  eye,  they  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  the  last-named  vessel  compelled  to  describe  an 
arc  of  an  immense  circle,  before  she  could  even  begin  to  bear  down 
upon  them.  The  baron,  in  the  meantime,  took  his  turn  at  the 
oars,  and  even  compelled  the  notary  to  duty  in  the  same  hue,  under 
penalty  of  being  left  behind.  Frequent  changes  at  this  labor,  with 
stout  hearts  and  strong  arms,  worked  wonders,  and  in  less  than 
twenty  minutes,  notwithstanding  the  roughness  of  the  water,  they 
reached  the  Jersey  shore,  while  their  pursuers  were  yet  more  than  a 
mile  distant.  Nabb  had  grown  much  terrified  in  contemplating  the 
probable  disposition  which  was  to  be  made  of  himself  after  he  had 
ceased  to  be  serviceable  ;  and  his  alarm  was  not  abated  on  landing, 
by  hearing  some  cool  inquiries  made  by  the  sailors  of  their  principal, 
as  to  the  manner  in  which  he  should  be  dispatched.  But  Montaigne 
entertained  no  such  design,  and  reminding  the  notary  that  he  was  a 
prisoner  of  war,  released  him  on  his  parole  of  honor  not  to  aid  or 
assist,  l)y  information  or  otherwise,  in  the  pursuit.  Impressed  with 
the  importance  of  retaining  his  skiff,  the  baron  caused  it  to  be  skil- 
fully concealed  in  a  ra\dne  in  the  woods,  and  then,  with  the  sailors, 
plunged  into  the  thicknesses  of  the  forest  to  await  the  approach  of 

.2 


26  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

niglit.  The  pursuing  party  came  up  some  thirty  minutes  subse- 
quently, only  to  find  the  half-exhausted  attorney  alone  upon  the 
beach.  Still  impetuous  in  the  chase,  they  plied  him  with  a  dozen 
questions  at  once,  as  to  the  course  of  the  fugitives  and  the  disposition 
made  of  the  boat ;  but  Nabb  rigidly  preserved  his  parole.  If  ridicu- 
lous and  conceited  at  times,  he  was  not  wanting  in  honor  as  he  had 
proved  himself  not  deficient  in  corn-age.  The  pursuers,  therefore, 
after  much  ineffectual  search,  returned  to  the  city,  contenting  them- 
selves with  the. belief  that  the  Frenchmen  would  be  starved  in  the 
wilderness,  or  be  murdered  by  the  Indians. 

Lord  Cornbury  was  much  chagrined  at  the  affair,  and  the  more 
so  when  he  had  succeeded  in  extorting  from  the  fears  of  some  of  the 
crew  the  name  and  rank  of  the  fugitive.  That  he  had  had  so 
coveted  a  prize  within  his  very  grasp,  and  yet  had  suffered  him  to 
escape,  was  a  most  galling  reflection.  Rage  for  a  while  became 
dominant  in  his  breast,  and  he  had  nearly  resolved  on  a  revocation 
of  his  clemency  towards  the  remaining  prisoners;  but  reflection 
induced  him  to  follow  out  the  line  of  policy  which  he  had  before 
adopted.  They  were  all  set  at  liberty  on  the  terms  which  have 
abeady  been  named,  and  Father  Ledra  was  allowed  ample  time  to 
quit  the  province.  The  governor,  for  a  while,  lost  sight  of  the 
minor  incidents  connected  with  the  affair  in  the  attempt  at  regaining 
the  baron,  an  object  for  the  accomplishment  of  which,  by  proclamation 
and  pursuit,  he  left  no  means  untried.  Troops  were  sent  up  the  river, 
and  Indians  through  the  forest ;  and  extra  posts  and  runners  were 
flying  in  every  direction,  proclaiming  the  escape  and  the  princely 
reward  of  re-capture.  That  the  lion  was  in  the  jungle  somewhere 
between  New  York  and  Albany,  there  could  be  little  doubt ;  and  so 
confident  were  the  anticipations  of  his  being  taken,  that  the  council 
in  New  York  several  times  debated  the  subject  of  his  doom.  But 
the  vigilance  and  valor  which  had  planned  so  extraordinary  an 
escape  were  not  easily  to  be  circumvented.     A  protracted  journeyj 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  27 

prolific  in  incidents  of  peril  and  suffering,  was  terminated  by  his  safe 
arrival  at  Castle  Montaigne,  an  event  to  which  others  of  great 
moment  were  subsequently  hnked,  as  the  diligent  reader  of  the  fol- 
lowing pages  will  discover. 


28  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

"Quaint  old  town  of  toil  and  traffic,  quaint  old 
town  of  art  and  song  ; 
Memories  haunt  thy  pointed  gables,  like  the  rooks 
that  round  them  thToiig."— Longfellow. 

Jacobus  Waldron  was  a  Dutchman  ingrain.  He  was  bom 
somewliere  near  the  centre  of  Holland  proper,  out  of  the  range  of 
all  foreign  atmospheric  influences,  and  of  parents,  whose  lineage, 
traceable  for  centuries,  was  of  unadulterated  Dutch.  He  spoke, 
wrote,  read,  thought,  and  dreamed  in  Dutch,  wore  Dutch  garments 
with  a  Dutch  air,  and  ate,  and  drank,  and  smoked,  and  slept  after 
the  most  approved  fashion  of  his  race.  It  had  been  with  many- 
misgivings  that  he  had  migrated,  when  yet  a  young  man,  to  New 
York,  which  at  that  time  was  a  colony  of  Holland,  but  which,  by 
some  strange  diplomatic  process  that  he  did  not  understand,  was 
soon  afterwards  passed  over  to  the  sovereignty  of  England.  Like 
some  huge  flapjack,  tossed  by  the  skilful  housewife  into  the  air,  and 
ever  coming  down  in  a  reversed  position,  such,  to  Jacobus's  seeming, 
had  been  the  poHtical  tumbhngs  of  the  infant  state,  which  had 
already  belonged  twice  to  both  Holland  and  England,  had  been 
now  taken  on  the  sly  and  now  by  force,  and  had  finally  been  trans- 
ferred with  the  dash  of  a  pen  to  the  last  named  government,  in 
company  with  some  ignominious  islands  in  the  West  Indies  and  the 
South  Seas.  It  was  a  galling  reflection  to  Mynheer  Waldron  that 
his  native  land  had  thus  expatriated,  as  it  were,  thousands  of  her 
loving  sons,  who  had  thought,  even  at  this  distance,  to  nestle  safely 


THE      KING     OF     THE      HURONS.  29 

down  under  her  maternal  wings.  But  lie  had  brought  with  him  all 
his  worldly  means,  one  half  of  which  consisted  of  small  yellow 
bricks,  -with  shingles,  shutters,  and  weathercocks,  which  were  des- 
tined to  grow  into  a  house  in  the  new  world,  and  which  had  taken 
a  thousand  fantastic  shapes  in  his  imagination,  as  he  smoked,  and 
pondered,  and  dreamed  through  a  three  months'  voyage  from  Am- 
sterdam. He  had  brought  mth  him,  too,  a  plump  httle  wife  and 
a  still  plumper  baby,  cro^\^ng  as  yet,  although  of  a  sex  which  might 
more  appropriately  have  cackled.  And  thus  it  was  that  Jacobus 
continued  a  denizen  of  ISTew  York,  notwithstanding  its  excision  from 
Holland,  the  news  of  which  cruel  act  reached  him  just  as  he  had 
completed  his  house,  a  building  of  many  angles,  which  looked  as 
old  on  the  day  when  it  was  finished  as  it  did  a  century  subsequent, 
and  on  the  very  steep  and  smooth  roof  of  which  no  bird,  not  remark- 
ably sure-footed,  would  have  dared  to  alight.  He  shut  himself  up 
for  a  while  in  his  castle  in  great  consternation,  not  knowing  what 
amount  of  personal  calamity  to  apprehend;  but  finding  himself 
unmolested,  he  gradually  took  heart,  and  commenced  timidly  culti- 
vating his  land,  of  which  he  had  several  acres  ;  and,  finally,  growing 
more  and  more  daring,  ventured  to  smoke  his  pipe  on  his  front 
stoop,  in  the  face  of  the  whole  city.  As  time  rolled  by.  Jacobus 
was  delighted  to  find  that  he  remained  undisturbed,  and  that  his 
little  farm,  stocked  with  some  genuine  Dutch  cattle,  and  a  few  negro 
slaves,  who  were  then  a  cheap  commodity  in  the  province,  afforded 
him  a  very  comfortable  subsistence.  If  ther^  was  no  lack,  however 
so  neither  was  there  any  overplus ;  for  his  negroes,  unfortunately, 
were  all  provided  with  mouths,  and  even  his  children,  as  they  came 
successively  to  light,  proved  to  be  similarly  equipped  ;  so  that,  in 
one  way  and  another,  his  yearly  products  vanished  as  fast  as  they 
came.  He  had  many  schemes  for  growing  rich,  none  of  which, 
however,  ever  came  to  sufficient  maturity  in  his  mind  to  be  acted 
upon ;  but  he  kept  hoping  for  better  times,  and  fully  believing  that 
something  or  other  would  turn  up,  by  and  by,  greatly  to  his  ad  van- 


30  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURON S. 

tage.     That  indefinite  something  was  doubtless  the  very  same  thing 
which  has  been  about  to  happen  to  thousands  ever  since,  who  have 
lacked  energy  to  overcome  the  natural  vis  inertice  of  both  mind  and 
body,  and  who,  practising  neither  self-denial  nor  industry,  look  con- 
fidently for  the  rewards  of  both.     Whatever  it  was,  it  did  not  come 
to  Jacobus.     The  course  of  nature  was  not  subverted  for  his  benefit. 
He  did  not  grow  rich,  though  he  grew  fat ;  for  as  years  increased 
upon  him,  he  worked  less,  and  schemed  more.     Eighteen  summers 
rolled  by,  and  he  was  startled,  one  fine  afternoon,  on  rubbing  the 
smoke  out  of  his  eyes,  and  caUing  his  httle  Hetty  to  his  side,  to 
find  that  she  had  really  grown  to  be  a  young  woman,  and  not  a 
little  handsome  withal.     It  was  strange  that  he  had  never  noticed 
this  transformation  before  ;  for  whatever  his  daughter  might  have 
seemed  to  others,  to  him  she  had  always  been  the  same  httle  tod- 
dler, who  used  to  dance  among  the  cabbages  at  the  age  of  three, 
beguiHng  him  by  the  hour  from  his  little  relished  labor,  and  even 
knocking  down,  at  times,  the  underpinning  of  those  airy  structures 
which  he  so  much  delighted  to  build.     But  now  she  herself  became 
the  subject  of  a  scheme,  suddenly  conceived,  but  long  revolved,  as 
she  stood  at  his  side,  the  patient  recipient  of  many  puffs,  not  such 
as  beauty  covets  most.     Jacobus  gazed  into  her  pretty  face,  and 
smoothed  her  glossy  hair,  and  eyed  her  neat  round  figure  and  her 
dimpled  httle  hand,  and  thought  of  the  rich  young  Vanderknipper 
in  the  neighborhood,  who,  everybody  said,  was  in  search  of  a  wife. 
True,  he  was  a  booby,  tind  as  surly  as  a  mastiff,  but  he  owned  half 
the  street  in  which  he  resided,  and  many  a  fine  block  besides,  his 
father  ha\ang  recently  abdicated  in  his  fiivor,  and  gone  to  a  world 
where  real  estate  is  unknown.     It  was  with  much  embarrassment 
that  Mynheer  Waldron  succeeded  in  broaching  the  dehcate  subject, 
for  the  idea  of  matrimony,  he  doubted  not,  would  overwhelm  the 
poor  child  with  alai-m.     He  proved  to  be  somewhat  abroad  in  his 
calculations,  as  usual :  matrimony,  in  the  abstract,  was  not  an  object 
of  aversion  to  Hetty ;  but  she  would  by  no  means  consent  to  become 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  31 

Mrs.  Vanderknipper.  She  cared  little  for  blocks,  and  less  for  block- 
heads, and,  besides  that,  she  had  other  views  ;  not  that  she  said  to 
her  papa  what  she  thus  saucily  thought,  with  the  demurest  and  seem- 
ingly most  submissive  of  faces.  Argument  and  reason  were  unavail- 
ing, and  Jacobus,  pondering  deeply,  began  to  wonder  whether  the 
weekly  visits  of  a  young  English  merchant,  who  brought  over  his 
newspaper  regularly  for  the  father  to  read,  while  he  chatted  by  the 
hour  with  Hetty,  had  anything  at  all  to  do  with  the  matter.  It  could 
not  be  ;  for  Mr.  Huntington,  although  an  enterprising,  active  young 
man,  was  as  poor  as  himself;  and  as  neither  party  could  make  any 
money  by  the  operation,  it  did  not  seem  at  all  probable  that  the 
merchant  should  seek  an  alHance  with  his  daughter.  Once  more, 
Mynheer  Waldron  was  in  error  ;  Huntington  loved  Hetty,  and  mar- 
ried her,  before  the  father  well  knew  whether  he  had  given  his 
consent  or  not ;  and  Time,  whom  no  events  can  retard,  passed  on 
with  all  its  myriad  dramas,  for  another  period  of  twenty  years,  at 
which  epoch  his  gi'eat  kaleidoscope,  being  thoroughly  shaken  up, 
presented  objects  in  a  very  different  aspect.  Jacobus  was  still  alive, 
verging  on  eighty,  as  poor  as  ever,  and  still  looking  confidently  for 
some  favorable  change  in  his  affairs.  Huntington's  business  had 
prospered  famously  for  a  while,  for  he  was  a  dealer  in  furs,  a  magical 
sort  of  trade,  at  which  all  parties  were  gainers,  except  the  producers 
of  the  raw  material,  who  were  cheated  quite  out  of  their  skins.  He 
grew  rich,  indeed,  till  even  the  lout  of  a  Vanderknipper  took  off  his 
hat  to  him ;  and  then  something  jogged  the  rolling  world,  and  a 
heavy  cargo  of  peltry,  bound  to  China,  sank,  uninsured,  in  the 
Pacific.  Huntington  took  to  his  bed,  and  passed  thence  to  the 
churchyard ;  and  Hetty  pined  but  a  year,  before  she  slept  at  his 
side,  showing  that  life  and  wealth  are  only  other  names  for  bubbles 
and  shadows.  But  they  had  not  lived  in  vain.  A  son,  of  manly 
beauty,  of  graceful  but  athletic  figure,  of  open  and  engaging  counte- 
nance, perpetuated  his  father's  worth  and  his  mother's  gentleness 
At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  had  been  called  home  from  a  foreign 


32  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS, 

university  by  intelligence  of  his  first  calamity,  only  in  time  to  receive 
the  coveted  caresses  of  his  remaining  parent,  and  to  follow  her, 
destitute,  and  an  orphan,  to  the  grave.  Some  hearts  are  schooled, 
gradually,  to  grief,  and  grow  familiar  with  its  returning  visage  ;  but 
Hemich's  first  draught  of  sorrow  was  from  the  lees.  He  mourned 
as  none  but  the  ingenuous  and  noble-hearted  can  mourn ;  and  when 
to  others'  seeming  least  mindful  of  his  bereavement,  his  whole  heart 
was  often  flooded  with  the  gushing  tenderness  inspired  by  some 
sudden  recollection  of  his  loss.  Mementoes  were  all  around  him, 
hourly  touching  some  mystic  thread  of  memory,  and  summoning^ 
from  her  haunted  caverns,  the  apparitions  of  departed  bliss.  Ah  ! 
little  do  they  think,  whose  experience  of  adversity  has  been  confined 
to  the  common  bufFetings  of  fortune,  of  that  greater  calamity,  which, 
taking  one  treasure,  leaves  all  others  valueless  !  To  lose  a  friend, 
and  feel  that  there  can  be  no  return,  not  even  for  one  short  hour, 
through  all  the  coming  months,  and  seasons,  and  years  of  life,  no 
word,  no  glance,  no  token  of  forg-iven  wi'ong,  of  continued  love,  of 
hoped  re-union  ;  to  know  this  dreadful  truth,  to  feel  it  pressing 
heavily  upon  a  heart  yet  unused  to  its  vacancy,  this  is  misery 
indeed,  and  it  was  that  of  Henrieh. 

But  Heaven  has  graciously  implanted  in  the  mind,  as  in  the  body, 
those  recuperative  energies,  which  enable  it  to  rise  at  length,  buoy- 
ant, fi'om  the  severest  lacerations.  The  young  Huntington  became 
one  of  his  grandfather's  household,  although,  fortunately  for  both, 
not  without  a  remnant  of  means  which  saved  him  from  dependence. 
He  possessed  a  taste  for  study  and  added  largely,  in  private,  to 
that  broad  superstructure  of  learning  which  had  been  already  founded 
in  his  mind ;  and  when  a  few  summers  had  passed  away,  there 
were  but  slight  traces  of  his  affliction  discernible  in  his  deportment. 
He  had  become  happy  and  hopeful ;  his  laughter  was  again  heard 
by  welcoming  ears ;  his  step  was  hght  and  agile  ;  and  his  whole 
frame  animated  with  the  returning  elasticity  of  youth.  Still  deter- 
mining and  still  hesitating  to  enter  in  some  way  upon  the  active 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  33 

duties  of  life,  lie  yet  clung  to  liis  books  and  his  amusements  with  an 
indecision  that  he  resolved  should  soon  terminate.  He  would 
attempt  something ;  he  would  not  be  an  idler  in  the  busy  world 
around  him  ;  disconnected  with  its  sympathies  and  hopeless  of  its 
rewards.  Yet  his  were  not  the  common  illusions  of  youth,  present- 
ing the  personal  aggrandizement  resulting  from  wealth  or  fame  as 
the  ultimate  end  of  hfe.  Taught  in  the  school  of  affliction,  he  felt 
that  there  w^as  something  nobler  and  less  selfish  in  existence  than 
this ;  and  that  the  glorious  universe,  of  which  he  was  a  conscious 
part,  was  something  more  than  a  theatre  for  mere  personal  display, 
however  brilliant  might  be  the  ephemeral  gifts  of  man.  The  silent 
exemplars  of  ancient  virtue,  visible  in  colossal  though  indistinct  pro- 
portions upon  the  classic  page,  and  the  more  direct  teachings  of  that 
high  and  holy  i3hilosopliy,  before  which  the  light  of  mere  human 
learning  "  pales  its  ineffectual  ray,"  had  given  to  his  character  that 
moral  prominence  which  alone  truly  exjdts  humanity ;  and  which, 
when  wedded  to  intellect,  becomes,  hke  the  blended  light  and  heat 
of  day,  both  brilliant  and  benign. 

It  was  at  this  period  of  his  life  that  an  event  occurred,  which, 
though  singular  in  itself,  deserves  chronicling,  only  by  reason  of  its 
sequences,  at  an  after  day.  Fond  of  hardy  sports,  and  skilful  as  a 
marksman,  the  forests  were  his  frequent  resort  when  oppressed  with 
the  weariness  of  study ;  and  on  a  fine  June  afternoon,  he  had  saun- 
tered, gun  in  hand,  to  the  woods,  uncompanioned  save  by  the  bright 
memories  and  brighter  hopes  that  spring  spontaneous  in  the  breast 
of  youth.  There  was  a  point,  a  little  north  of  the  wall,  where  a  high 
sandy  embankment  overlooked  the  city,  the  confluent  rivers,  the  bay 
and  its  islands,  and  the  opposing  shores,  which  stretched  away  in  the 
distance,  and  converged  in  a  hazy  line  around  the  shining  waters,  till 
but  a  narrow  vista  hinted  of  the  unrevealed  beauties  beyond.  It 
was  a  spectacle  of  rare  beauty,  and  Henrich  lingered  long  to  gaze 
upon  it,  and  to  watch  the  shifting  shadows  that  played  upon  the 
bay  and  beach,  as  the  gauzy  clouds  sailed  lazily  across  the  bright 

2* 


34  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

blue  sky.  The  tomi  reposed  quietly  before  him,  sending  up  no  busy 
hum  to  his  ear.  The  shouts  of  children  in  the  streets,  driving  the 
bounding  ball,  or  watching  the  diving  kite  ;  the  sound  of  the  ^yood- 
man's  axe  and  its  quick  echo  ;  the  rattling  of  an  occasional  wagon ; 
the  laughter  of  trafficking  men  ;  the  song  of  the  light-hearted  negro ; 
— ^these  were  the  city's  blended  voices.  The  gleam  of  the  sentinel's 
bayonet  came  from  the  distant  fort  as  he  paced  his  idle  round  ;  the 
unhfted  flag  was  seen  drooping  from  its  staff;  and,  frowning  from 
their  embrasures,  the  threatening  cannon  looked  out  towards  the 
sea. 

Beyond  this  hill,  over  Avhich  the  "  ploughshare  of  ruin"  has  long 
since  been  driven, '^as  a  thicket  or  dense  portion  of  the  forest, 
remarkable  for  its  profuse  foliage  and  the  unrelieved  depth  of  its 
shade.  It  was  of  considerable  extent,  and  included  a  ravine,  at  the 
bottom  of  which  a  sullen  streamlet  proved  an  attraction  to  the  game, 
and  consequently  to  the  sportsman  also.  He  had  not  proceeded  far 
in  this  direction,  when  he  perceived  signs  of  what  seemed  at  first 
a  mortal  contest  between  two  athletic  men  ;  but  a  nearer  advance 
and  a  closer  scrutiny  showed  him  that  one  only  of  the  combatants 
was  a  human  being,  who  was  wrestling  at  vastly  unequal  odds  with 
a  huge  gaunt  wolf.  Unusual  as  was  this  circumstance,  it  being  well 
known  that  these  animals  seldom  singly  attack  a  man,  unless 
impelled  by  the  fiercest  goadings  of  famine,  the  combat  was  of  the 
most  \dolent  kind,  and  gave  promise  of  a  speedy  termination. 
Appalled  at  the  imminent  peril  which  threatened  a  fellow-being, 
Henrich  hastened  to  the  spot,  and  for  some  time  strove  in  vain  to 
make  himself  a  party  to  the  conflict.  So  closely  was  the  man  locked 
in  the  fearful  embrace  of  the  beast,  and  so  rapid  were  their  gyrations, 
that  any  attempt  to  dispatch  the  latter  with  his  weapon,  might 
have  proved  equally  fatal  to  the  other.  For  a  few  seconds  he 
darted  around  the  parties,  from  side  to  side,  seeking  vainly  for  a 
safe  opportunity  to  discharge  his  rifle  with  effect ;  and  then,  impelled 
by  the  increasing  peril  of  the  stranger,  he  threw  his  gun  on  the 


THE      KING      OF      THE      SURONS.  35 

ground,  and  with  open  arms  rushed  into  the  melee.  The  fierce 
flashing  eyes  of  the  wolf,  his  ensanguined  jaws  and  teeth,  as  he 
turned  snarlingly  for  a  moment  towards  the  new  comer,  were  not 
calculated  to  inspire  courage  in  his  breast ;  but  determined  not  to 
abandon  a  fellow  mortal  in  such  extremity,  Henrich  grasped  the 
infuriated  beast  by  the  neck,  and  throwing  himself  heavily  upon  him 
succeeded  in  disengaging  him  from  the  wounded  man.  The  latter, 
staggering  backwards  for  a  moment,  rallied,  and  raising  a  club  was 
about  to  renew  the  war,  when  the  animal,  alarmed  at  the  reinforce- 
ment of  his  foe,  commenced  a  growhng  retreat.  It  proved,  however, 
a  less  masterly  and  less  successful  performance  than  some  feats  of 
this  class  which  are  on  record ;  for  Huntington,  coolly  recovering  his 
weajDon,  called  upon  the  rescued  man  to  stand  aside,  who  was  still 
menacingly  brandishing  his  club,  and  making  a  feint  of  pursuit.  A 
quick  aim  and  a  detonation  that  was  mingled  with  a  short,  fierce 
yell  of  the  wolf,  as  he  rolled  on  the  ground,  ended  the  affair ;  and 
for  the  first  time  Henrich  had  an  opportunity  to  gratify  his  curiosity 
by  looking  at  his  companion.  He  was  a  rough,  sun-burnt  man  of 
about  forty  years,  clad  in  a  sailor's  dress,  and  with  a  countenance 
which  must  have  been  singularly  forbidding  in  any  aspect,  but  which 
at  the  present  moment  was  almost  fiendish  in  its  expression.  Seamed 
with  scratches,  stained  with  blood,  lighted  with  eyes  that  still  flashed 
rage,  his  face  scarcely  needed  the  coarse,  disordered  hair,  and  matted 
moustache  which  environed  it,  to  seem  altogether  diabolical ;  and 
when  Henrich,  suppressing  his  emotions  of  horror,  sympathizingly 
inquired  the  extent  of  his  injuries,  the  harsh,  grating  reply  of  the 
other  was  in  singular  unison  with  his  looks. 

"  The  foul  fiend  seize  him ! "  he  said,  glancing  at  the  insensate 
carcase  ;  "  I  was  asleep  upon  the  gi'ound,  or  he  never  would  have 
dared  to  attack  me ;  and  as  for  you,  young  man,  I  suppose  you 
think  you  have  saved  my  life  !" 

Henrich  smiled,  and  was  about  to  reply,  when  the  other  con- 
tinued : 


36  THE      KING      OF      THE      HUr.ONS. 

"  But  in  that  you  are  quite  mistaken  ;  if  you  had  let  us  alone,  I 
should  have  done  well  enough;  I  don't  need  help  against  one 
wolf,  and  not  much  against  a  whole  pack ;  however,  you  meant  well 
enough,  Henrich  Huntington,  and  for  such  a  milk-soppish  looking  fel- 
low, did  well  enough,  too  ;  only,  next  time,  I'll  thank  you  not  to 
interfere — that's  all !"  and  so  saying,  the  man  picked  up  his  crushed 
cap,  shook  the  dust  from  it,  and  thrusting  it  on  his  head,  marched 
off  without  further  comment. 

The  young  man  gazed  after  him  with  an  air  of  utter  surprise,  nor 
did  he  withdraw  his  eyes  until  the  other  had  entirely  disappeared  in 
the  depths  of  the  forest.  Then  smiling,  as  he  proceeded  to  reload 
his  gun,  he  said : 

"  I  killed  the  wrong  wolf  that  time,  certainly,  and  should  have 
received  more  thanks  if  I  had  helped  the  other  side.  Who  can  the 
savage  be  ?  and  how  does  he  know  my  name  ?" 

Thus  soliloquizing,  Ilenrich,  after  loading  and  priming  his  piece, 
proceeded  to  examine  the  body  of  the  slain  animal,  which  was  of  a 
size  and  species  unusual  in  that  region,  and  one  from  a  personal 
encounter  with  which  the  bravest  might  well  have  shrunk.  His 
bold  attack,  however,  was  very  remarkable,  and  rendered  probable 
the  truth  of  the  stranger's  assertion,  that  it  had  been  made  while  he 
was  asleep,  and,  doubtless,  in  the  opinion  of  his  assailant,  already 
defunct. 

The  young  man,  after  examining  the  body  a  few  minutes,  was 
about  to  turn  away,  when  he  heard  a  light  bounding  step  breaking 
through  the  underbrush,  and  a  young^Indian  hunter  stood  at  his 
side.  Uttering  a  quick  guttural  sound,  that  would  hardly  have  been 
recognised  as  a  laugh,  excepting  by  one  famihar  with  Indian  modes 
of  expression,  the  savage  looked  deferentially  at  Huntington,  and 
then  pointing  at  the  game,  said  : 

"  Old  long-ears ;  me  shoot  him  t^\^ce  last  year ;  no  use — see  !" 
and  turning  the  carcase  over,  he  pointed  out  two  scars  upon  the 
animal's  chest,  which  were  evidently  the  traces  of  severe  wounds. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  37 

Continuing  his  examination,  he  again  uttered  a  chuckle  of  deliglit, 
and  taking  his  knife  from  his  belt,  moved  it  dexterously  for  a  few 
moments  about  the  shoulder  of  the  beast,  and  produced  a  leaden 
bullet,  which  he  held  up  exultingly  to  Henrich. 

"  Mine  !"  he  said ;  "  my  wolf !     AVhat  does  my  brother  say  ?" 
"  Say  ?"  rephed  Henrich ;  "  why,  I  say  that  you  have  proved  title 
very  clearly ;  and  if  you  want  the  head — there  it  is  ;  help  yourself, 
Winny !     The  bounty  will  find  you  in  powder  for  a  month." 

Nodding  good-naturedly  to  the  young  man,  the  Indian  quickly 
severed  the  head,  and  seizing  it  by  the  ears,  started  on  a  run 
towards  the  city,  to  claim  the  small  bounty  which  was  then  paid  for 
slaughtering  beasts  of  prey.  Henrich,  meanwhile,  abandoning  his 
proposed  sport,  returned  slowly  homeward,  musing  upon  the  singular 
events  of  the  day. 


38  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 


CHAPTER    V. 

♦'  She  never  wanted  a  good  word — 
From  those  who  spoke  her  praise." — Qoldsmith. 

Mrs.  Sniff  was  a  slender  little  widow,  of  active  tongue,  whose 
dear  departed  had  grown  enamored  of  the  grave,  by  hearing  it 
described  as  a  place  of  silence,  and  was  strongly  suspected  of  ha\dng 
taken  a  voluntary  leave  of  life.  If  his  relict  had  not  mourned 
deeply  for  her  bereavement,  then  there  was  no  virtue  in  crape ;  for 
hers  was  of  the  finest  quality,  and  was  selected,  with  the  discrimi- 
nating eye  of  gi'ief,  from  the  most  recent  importations.  Mrs.  Sniff 
was  frequently  astonished  to  find  herself  on  the  very  verge  of  forty, 
— a  circumstance  singular  in  itself,  and  well  worthy  of  surprise,  inas- 
much as  she  had  been  christened  somewhat  over  half  a  century ; 
but  she  possessed  a  knack  at  aping  girlhood  which  might  almost 
cheat  Father  Time  himself,  and  which,  in  the  apprehensions  of  some 
neighboi'ing  spinsters,  bade  fair  to  prevent  her  being  harvested  in 
due  season. 

A  snug  little  house  and  garden,  and  a  very  shadowy  income,  were 
the  widow's,  who,  with  a  single  servant,  lived  alone  in  a  retired 
quarter  of  the  city  ;  and  it  was  not  without  delight  that  she  received 
propositions  from  a  fine-looking  foreigner  to  admit  two  young  ladies 
into  her  household,  not  exactly  as  boarders,  of  course,  but  as  com- 
panions and  friends,  who  would  pay  a  very  liberal  stipend  for  the 
favor,  and  ask  no  questions.  But  if  Mrs.  Sniff  was  delighted,  she 
was  careful  not  to  appear  so  ;  she  really  did  not  know,  she  was 
entirely  unused  to  anything  of  the  kind ;  but  she  certainly  had  some 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  39 

spare  room,  and  if  Captain  Sill  could  assure  her  that  the  ladies  were 
quite  respectable,  and  would  reflect  no  dishonor  upon  the  roof  of 
her  dear  departed  Sniff,  she  thought  she  might  bring  herself  to  con- 
sent,— the  pay,  of  course,  to  be  in  advance.     The  captain,  who  had 
kindl}^  undertaken  this  commission,  by  reason  of  Father  Ledra's  igno- 
rance of  the  English  language,  succeeded  in  satisfying  the  expected 
hostess  of  the  entire  worthiness  of  her  guests,  and  in  baffling  her 
curious  endeavors  to  ascertain  any  particulars  of  their  history.     The 
situation  seemed  to  him  in  every  way  desirable.     Seclusion  was  a 
primary  object  with  Miss  Montaigne,  who  was  enjoined  to  hold  her- 
self in  readiness  to  depart,  whenever  her  father  should  be   able  to 
send  an  escort  for  her  safety  ;  and,  in  the  meantime,  to  live  as  retired 
as  possible,  and,  above  all  things,  to  conceal  her  real  name.     The 
preliminaries  of  a  treaty  were  therefore  arranged,  not  to  be  ratified, 
however,  until  after  a  personal  inspection  of  the  premises  by  Miss 
Emily  ;  an  inquisition,  at  the  mention  of  which  Mrs.  Sniff  exhibited 
much  uneasiness,  and  begged  it  might  be  deferred  until  the  follow- 
ing day.     If  the  ladies  were  to  be  allowed  to  choose  for  themselves,  it 
was   manifestly  quite   a  different  affair.     Fathers,  and  uncles,   and 
guardians  are  easily  gammoned,  thought  the  widow,  but  when  it 
comes  to  these  meddling  girls,  flying  about  the  house,  peering  into 
every  corner,  and  turning  up  their  noses  at  all  the  shifts  and  artifices 
of  genteel  poverty,  that  is  another  thing.     And  so  it  was.     But 
forewarned  is  forearmed,  thought  Mrs.  Sniff;  and  no  sooner  had  the 
captain  withdrawn,  than  the  house  was  turned  forthwith  out  of  the 
Avindows,  and  thoroughly  renovated,  by  the  aid  of  two  borrowed 
slaves,  who,  belonging  to  a  Dutchman,  had  been  taught  that  cleanh- 
ness  was  a  cardinal  virtue,  and  quite  essential  to  salvation.     Ila^^ng 
thus  made  sure  that  no  unbecoming  sights  or  odors  would  greet  the 
sensitive  organs  of  her  visitors,  everything  was  carefully  replaced, 
the  scanty  finery  being  skilfully  divided  between  the  two   rooms 
designed  for  their  use,  and  some  veiy  bountiful  bouquets  adorning 
the  respective  mantels.     The  little  parlor  below  was  made  to  do  its 


40  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

best,  which  was  httle  more  than  to  exhibit  through  an  open  window 
a  fine  view  of  the  East  river,  and  of  the  opposite  shore  of  Long- 
Island  ;  the  garden  was  put  in  hasty  trim,  and  the  widow  herself, 
particularly  prim,  received  Miss  Roselle  with  many  regrets  that  her 
house  and  premises  were  unusually  out  of  order,  by  reason  of  a  long 
catalogue  of  disturbing  influences  which  she  proceeded  to  relate. 
Emily  had  been  cautioned  not  to  be  over  particular,  as  the  retire- 
ment would  counterbalance  many  defects ;  and  she  tripped  daintily 
about  the  house  for  some  time,  preceded  by  her  chattering  hostess, 
who  herself  decried  everything  with  such  an  amazing  humility  that 
she  quite  disarmed  criticism.  But  Miss  Roselle  was  in  truth  sur- 
prised at  the  general  air  of  neatness  which  she  encountered ;  and 
contenting  herself,  therefore,  with  much  indistinct  murmuring,  she 
dictated  a  few  unimportant  alterations,  by  way  of  a  salvo  to  her 
authority,  and  at  length  condescendingly  expressed  her  satisfaction. 

"  This  will  be  your  own  room,  I  presume,"  said  Mrs.  Sniff,  re-enter- 
ing the  better  chamber ;  "  it  is  the  largest  and  most  airy,  and  the 
view  from  the  window  is  so  charming." 

"  I  think  I  shall  prefer  the  other,"  Emily  replied,  shghtly  coloring, 
for  she  perceived  that  she  was  taken  for  the  principal  of  the  two 
strangers ;  "  I  do  not  fancy  large  rooms,  and  this  love  of  a  morning- 
glory  under  the  Vvdndow  will  be  so  delightful." 

And  so  the  bargain  was  concluded,  and  on  the  same  day  Blanche 
and  Emily  were  quietly  settled  in  their  new  quarters.  It  was  with 
a  singular  feeling  of  desolation  that  Miss  Montaigne  contemplated 
her  new  position.  Separated  from  her  father  for  an  indefinite  period, 
and  anticipating  a  speedy  parting  with  both  of  her  remaining  pro- 
tectors, she  might  well  look  forward  with  misgivings  to  the  future. 
Father  Ledra  was  to  sail  in  a  few  days  in  a  Dutch  vessel  bound  to 
Holland,  and  was  thus  to  regain  his  home ;  and  Captain  Sill,  who 
by  some  private  diplomacy  with  the  governor  had  obtained  permis- 
sion to  depart,  took  advantage  of  the  same  opportunity.  They 
called  too-ether  on  the  day  of  embarkation  to  take  a  final  leave  of 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HUROXS.  41 

tlieir  young  friends,  and  to  commend  them  to  the  especial  kindness 
of  their  hostess,  who  being,  as  she  protested,  but  a  girl  herself, 
feared  that  she  could  not  do  much  for  them  ;  but  promised  to  watch 
over  them  with  a  sisterly  care. 

"  We  are  three  young  things  together.  Captain  Sill,"  she  said, 
dehghted  that  she  had  so  distinguished  a  personage  under  her  roof, 
"  and  my  little  dove-cot  here,  as  I  call  it,  is  quite  without  a  protector, 

since  the  loss  of  my  poor  dear ;"  she  did  not  say  Sniff,  but 

substituted  the  action  for  the  word,  which  answered  the  purpose 
quite  as  well. 

Blanche  was  deeply  affected  at  parting  with  Father  Ledra,  for 
whom  she  had  the  sincerest  regard  ;  nor  did  she  fail  to  reciprocate 
the  kindness  of  the  worthy  captain,  who  seemed  to  take  almost  a 
paternal  interest  in  her  welfare.  Nothing,  indeed,  but  the  imperative 
claims  of  a  beloved  family  at  home  w^ould  have  induced  him  to  leave 
I^Tew  York,  until  he  had  seen  Miss  Montaigne  re-united  to  her 
fiiends,  and  at  times  he  felt  disposed  to  urge  her  return  with  him  to 
Paris,  but  the  injunctions  of  the  baron  were,  of  course,  a  law  which 
they  had  no  right  to  disregard. 

The  departure  of  the  visitors  left  Mrs.  Sniff  in  a  sad  state  of  per- 
plexity. There  had  been  something  of  deference  in  their  deportment 
towards  the  young  ladies,  which  induced  her  to  suspect  that  the 
latter  must  be  persons  of  considerable  distinction  ;  and  the  airs  of 
Miss  Emily  and  the  reserve  of  the  beautiful  Blanche,  both  strength- 
ened her  suspicions.  Here,  then,  was  a  rare  turn  in  Fortune's 
w^heel ;  to  have  disguised  countesses  and  marchionesses,  or  duch- 
esses, perhaps,  under  her  roof,  and  selecting  her  out  from  all 
the  city  for  their  friend  and  protectress.  She  always  knew  she  had 
never  been  appreciated — Mrs.  Sniff  did  ;  and  thought  her  time  would 
come,  and  now  at  last  it  had.  Her  own  excessive  gentility  had 
done  it  all, — she  could  see  that  clearly  enough  ;  and  it  would  never 
have  happened  if  her  poor  dear  Sniff  had  been  in  the  way,  who  had 
always  been  a  clog  uj)on  her,  and  prevented  her  from  rising  to  she 


42  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

knew  not  what  heights  of  distinction.  But  it  was  still  with  no  httle 
trepidation  that  she  looked  forward  to  the  duties  imposed  upon  her 
by  so  delicate  a  station.  She  would,  doubtless,  she  thought,  be 
called  upon  to  act  as  a  sort  of  usher  for  the  young  ladies  in  good 
society,  where  they  would  of  course  be  emulous  to  shine  ;  and  she 
began  to  think  over  the  list  of  her  visiting  acquaintances  to  see  who 
among  them  was  of  sufficient  rank  to  serve  her  in  such  an  emer- 
gency. There  was  young  Shiel,  a  very  distant  cousin  of  her  own, 
who  was  a  fashionable  man  about  town,  and  was  said  to  be  on 
intimate  terms  with  Lord  Cornbury.  True,  he  was  a  scamping 
fellow,  dissolute  and  worthless ;  but  then  he  was  genteel,  and  the 
very  man  whom  it  was  her  duty,  as  a  friend  and  protectress  of  the 
young  ladies,  to  introduce  to  them.  But  Shiel,  unfortunately,  could 
scarcely  be  reckoned  as  an  acquaintance ;  for  although  there  had 
long  been  a  tradition  in  the  family  of  her  having  once  refused  his 
hand  at  a  dance  in  favor  of  her  newly-betrothed  Sniff;  and  although 
his  apparition  had  frequently  been  raised  in  family  altercations,  to 
the  great  terror  of  that  meek  gentleman,  as  one  of  the  "  might  have 
hads"  of  his  much  injured  spouse ;  notwithstanding  all  this,  Shiel 
had  coolly  put  up  his  eye-glass  on  meeting  her  for  the  last  twenty 
yeans,  and  never  succeeded  in  discovering  who  she  was.  But  then 
Shiel  was  getting  to  be  an  elderly  young  man,  and  might  be  con- 
templating matrimony ;  and  with  such  rare  attractions  as  the  dove- 
cot now  possessed,  he  could  of  course  be  brought  around.  Well, 
then,  there  was  Shiel  to  begin  with.  But  Mrs.  Sniff  pondered  a  long 
time  before  she  could  think  of  any  one  else.  There  was  the  Dutch 
alderman  at  the  corner,  whose  purse  was  supposed  to  be  altogether 
bottomless,  it  was  so  very  deep  ;  but  he  was  a  crotchety  old  fellow 
who  cared  nothing  for  countesses ;  and  his  buxom  daughter  Sally, 
whose  face  was  always  blazing  with  the  unexpired  tints  of  the 
kitchen  fire,  could  scarcely  be  shown  oflf  to  much  advantage.  But 
then  there  was — stranore  that  she  had  not  thouQ-ht  of  him  sooner — 
young  Henrich  Huntington,  so  handsome,  so  aristocratic-looking,  so 


THE      KING      OF      THE     HURON S.  43 

graceful  and  unpretending  withal ;  and  who  had  been  educated  in 
an  English  University,  and  for  whom  many  a  rich  Dutch  belle  would 
have  given  her  very  ears,  with  their  gi'eat  golden  drops  in  the 
bargain.  True  he  was  poor,  but  the  countesses  need  never  know 
that  if  he  only  kept  his  own  counsel,  which  she  had  no  doubt  he 
w^ould.  And  then,  he  had  a  love  of  a  little  sail-boat,  and  could  give 
them  such  delightful  excursions  up  the  rivers  and  down  the  bays, 
and  away  off  to  Hedge-hog  Point  and  Gibbet  Island ;  which  latter 
place,  although  not  exactly  a  place  of  amusement,  possessed  the 
attraction  of  several  capital  swings,  of  such  an  enchaining  character 
that  those  who  once  entered  them  could  never  tear  themselves  away. 
The  widow  Sniff,  indeed,  possessed  a  vivid  imagination,  and  saw 
everything  of  the  color  of  the  rose,  excepting  her  weeds,  which  she 
resolved  to  discard ;  and  ha\dng  emerged  from  her  cloud  of  sables 
she  could  easily,  she  thought,  fall  back  to  thirty-five,  by  the  aid  of 
rings,  ringlets,  and  a  blonde  veil.  If  her  lodgers  had  thought  her 
genteel  before,  what  would  they  think  then ;  and  as  to  Mr,  Shiel, 
why  there  was  such  a  thing  as  reviving  the  embers  of  a  decayed 
passion,  and  there  was  no  telling  what  might  happen  ;  so  the 
duchesses,  after  all,  must  take  their  chance. 

Thus,  long  and  sagely,  did  Mrs.  Sniff  plot  and  ponder  ;  but  all 
her  schemes,  hke  many  originating  in  wiser  heads,  were  destined  to 
avail  but  little.  Some  of  her  aims  remained  unaccomplished,  and 
others,  as  will  be  seen,  attained  a  fulfilment  which  owed  but  httle  to 
her  agency. 


44  .  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


Vine  leaf  and  flower  had  newly  burst, 

And  on  the  burden  of  the  air 
The  breath  of  buds  came  faint  and  rare  ; 

And  far  in  the  transparent  sky, 
The  small  earth-keeping  birds  were  seen, 

Soaring  deliriously  high, 
And  through  the  clefts  of  newer  green 

The  waters  dashed  their  living  pearls."— ^FzVZis. 


Solitude  and  seclusion,  doubtless,  have  their  charms,  but  these 
were  not  found  sufficient  at  all  times  to  keep  Blanche  and  Emily 
within  the  purlieus  of  the  dove-cot.  It  was  on  a  bright  afternoon 
in  June,  not  many  days  after  they  had  become  domiciled  in  their 
new  home,  that  they  ventured  together  upon  a  stroll,  seeking  to  gain 
a  glimpse  of  the  world  around  them.  Their  hostess,  who  dealt 
largely  in  the  marvellous,  had  held  out,  from  time  to  time,  divers 
intimations  of  impending  dangers  with  which  every  other  place  was 
beset  excepting  the  ground  sheltered  by  her  sacred  roof;  and  Emily's 
excitable  imagination  became  populous  ^\dth  buccaneers,  banditti, 
ghosts,  goblins,  and  witches,  until  almost  every  spot  seemed  to 
harbor  one  or  another  of  these  unwelcome  neighbors.  There  was, 
indeed,  an  air  of  wildness  and  novelty  pervading  the  new  world  into 
which  she  had  been  introduced,  which  favored  the  most  colossal 
growth  of  credulity.  Its  many  wonderful  realities  formed,  of  course, 
the  basis  of  still  more  wonderful  fables,  and  rendered  the  boundary 
line  of  rational  belief  not  always  easily  discernible,  even  by  more 
sagacious  minds  than  that  of  Miss  Roselle.  Sleepless,  however,  as 
were  her  apprehensions,  they  did  not  extend  to  the  anticipation  of 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  45 

danger  on  the  present  occasion,  and  the  cousins,  yearning  for  the 
freedom  of  the  green  fields  and  the  open  air,  of  which  they  had  been 
so  long  restrained,  went  joyously  upon  their  way.  They  passed 
through  the  central  gate  of  the  city,  and  following  up  the  windings 
of  a  small  creek,  which  led  past  some  quiet  farm-houses,  they  reached 
the  base  of  the  sandy  embankment  of  which  mention  has  been  made, 
and  toiled,  panting,  up  its  grassy  sides,  exhilarated  by  the  deep 
inhalations  of  fresh  air  which  they  were  forced  to  imbibe,  and 
charmed  with  the  widening  circuit  of  view  which  each  upward  stage 
extended  before  them.  Properly  speaking,  they  could  not  be  said 
before  to  have  seen  the  magnificent  spectacle  of  the  bay  of  New 
York,  which  now,  with  its  fairy  islands,  its  romantic  shores,  and  the 
entrance  of  its  broad  tributaries,  the  Hudson  and  East  rivers,  were 
comprised  in  a  single  picture,  dwelling  upon  the  eye  with  a  most 
pleasing  effect.  They  gazed  long  and  dehghtedly,  pointing  out  to 
each  other  the  objects  of  attraction  which  successively  fell  under 
their  notice,  and  for  a  while  scarcely  conscious  that  they  were  suffer- 
ing from  the  sun  of  June,  which,  although  far  past  the  meridian,  was 
pouring  its  slant  rays  through  the  air  with  an  oppressive  intensity. 
When  at  length,  sated  with  the  prospect,  they  turned  their 
gaze  northward,  the  adjacent  forest,  with  its  cool  dense  shades, 
presented  an  aspect  too  inviting  to  be  resisted.  There  certainly 
could  be  no  danger,  they  imagined,  while  keeping  only  in  its 
border;  and  with  some  trepidation,  arising  from  the  mysterious 
warnings  of  their  hostess,  they  ventured  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
retreat.  It  was,  indeed,  a  temptation  difficult  to  resist.  The  voice 
of  birds  alone  disturbed  the  tranquil  repose  of  Nature,  as,  flitting 
from  bough  to  bough,  their  tiny  plumes  flashed  momentarily  upon 
the  eye ;  and  the  dreamy  hum  of  the  bee,  as  on  gauzy  wing  sus- 
pended he  now  hung  buzzing  above  some  tempting  flower,  and  now 
buried  himself  in  its  fragrant  depths.  A  brook,  most  diminutive  of 
its  race,  gurgled  at  their  feet ;  and,  as  it  rattled  down  the  decli\aty 
towards  a  still  thicker  shade,  seemed  hastening  with  fear  from  the 


46  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

scorching  sunbeams  which  threatened  its  very  existence.  Strange 
odors  were  in  the  air,  grateful  to  the  sense,  and  hinting  of  forest 
flowers,  hidden  in  a  thousand  lonely  nooks,  peeping  from  beneath 
piled  leaves,  crouching  beside  decayed  logs,  clinging  to  crevices  of 
rocks,  or  bending  above  the  glassy  brook,  and  resting  their  warm 
petals  on  its  wave. 

Blanche  possessed  a  spirit  happily  attuned  to  the  harmonies  of 
nature,  and  in  unison  with  all  its  charms.  Sorrow  and  fear,  and  a 
sense  of  loneliness,  had  clouded  for  a  while  her  sunny  heart,  but  it 
answered  now  with  elastic  impulse  to  the  witcheries  around  her.  She 
had  recently  recovered  from  the  illness  of  her  voyage,  and  the  gradual 
re-action  of  her  spirits  had  been  suddenly  accelerated  until  joy  and 
hope  and  gratitude  seemed  to  have  filled  her  heart.  The  sunbeam 
w^as  not  brighter,  the  flowers  were  not  purer,  nor  the  singing  birds 
more  bhthesome  than  was  Blanche.  Miss  Roselle,  although  widely 
uncongenial  to  her  cousin  in  the  points  most  essential  to  friendship, 
was  in  the  main  ^a  good-natured  girl,  and  the  possessor  of  some 
cleverness  much  obscured  by  conceit,  ller  romantic  ^•iews  of  hfe, 
also,  were  continually  conflicting  with  its  common-place  events,  and 
not  infrequently  drawing  upon  herself  a  ridicule,  which  she  was  for- 
tunate enough  never  to  perceive.  Such  as  she  was,  hoAvcver,  she 
was  the  only  friend  of  Blanche,  for  whom  she  entertained  a  profound 
respect,  not  untinctured  with  envy,  and  founded  on  qualities  which 
were  lightly  prized  by  their  possessor— ^er  beauty  and  rank.  The 
latter  was  too  painfully  connected  with  the  idea  of  an  unfeehng 
parent  to  be  the  subject  of  much  self-gratulation ;  and  mere  personal 
charms,  in  a  mind  constituted  like  Blanche's,  are  little  valued  until 
they  have  proved  an  attraction  to  some  beloved  object.  Then, 
indeed,  does  beauty  vindicate  its  power,  and  the  heart,  however 
innocent  and  artless,  learns  to  prize  every  minute  charm  and  grace 
which  can  help  to  rivet  the  rosy  chains  of  love. 

Half  an  hour  had  glided  past,  while  Blanche  and  Emily  had 
tarried  just  within  the  edge  of  the  woods,  at  times  roaming  idly 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S.  47 

about,  and  at  times  seated  conversing  upon  a  fallen  tree  :  they  were 
in  the  Jatter  position,  absorbed  in  the  examination  of  a  rare  and 
beautiful  wild-flower,  when  a  quick  sudden  tramp  was  heard  at  their 
side,  and  they  sprang  in  terror  to  the  gi-ound.  The  appearance  of  the 
intruder  was  one  that  might  reasonably  have  excited  some  alarm  in 
the  minds  of  the  ladies,  even  had  they  not  been,  as  they  were,  highly 
predisposed  to  that  emotion;  for  an  armed  man,  with  marks  of 
blood  not  only  upon  his  garments,  but  upon  his  face,  stood  at  their 
side.  Emily  uttered  a  succession  of  piercing  shrieks,  and  fled  towards 
the  city ;  while  Blanche,  with  a  contagious  terror,  fell  fainting  to  the 
earth.  The  stranger,  who  was  none  other  than  the  young  Hunting- 
ton returning  from  the  singular  adventure  which  has  been  related  in 
a  preceding  chapter,  and  who  had  not  perceived  the  ladies  until  they 
sprang  from  their  seat,  stood  paralysed  for  a  moment  with  contending 
emiOtions.  He  was  indeed  scarcely  less  startled  than  those  to  whom 
he  had  proved  such  an  object  of  dread,  and  before  he  could  recover 
sufficient  self-possession  either  to  recall  Miss  Ros^'lle  or  to  conjecture 
the  probable  cause  of  her  fright,  she  had  disappeared  over  the  brow 
of  the  hill.  His  attention  was  immediately  given  to  Blanche,  whose 
extraordinary  beauty,  as  she  lay  seemingly  lifeless  before  him,  was 
scarcely  less  a  matter  of  surpi-ise  than  everything  else  connected  with 
the  adventure.  He  sprang  to  the  neighboring  brook,  and  bringing 
water  in  his  cap,  dashed  it  freely  and  not  without  effect,  in  the  face 
of  the  patient,  who  slowly  revived,  but  on  the  sight  of  Henrich 
standing  near  had  well  nigh  swooned  a  second  time.  The  young 
man  hastened  to  allay  her  fears  by  such  explanations  and  assurances 
of  safety  as  the  excited  state  of  his  own  feelings  would  permit  him 
to  make,  and  he  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  her  in  a  short  time 
restored  to  a  comparative  degree  of  composure. 

"  I  fear  we  have  been  very  foolish,"  she  said,  smiling  faintly,  as 
Huntington  assisted  her  to  rise,  "  but  we  are  strangers  in  the  country, 
and  have  been  taught,  perhaps,  some  unnecessary  apprehensions." 

So  saying,  she  turned  to  depart,  when  Huntington  begged  that 


48  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

he  might  be  allowed  to  accompany  and  protect  her  from  further 
danger,  a  proposal  which,  in  her  still  weak  and  trembhng  state,  she 
could  scarcely  refuse.  She  was  yet  far  from  certain  that  the  stranger 
was  not  an  outlaw  of  some  kind,  but  his  courteous  manner  partly 
assuaged  her  alarm,  and  she  did  not  feel  disposed  to  risk  giving 
ofifence  by  refusing  his  civilities.  The  blood-stains  were  still  upon 
him,  and  her  own  blood  ran  cold  as  she  saw  them,  yet  she  dared  not 
appear  to  observe  such  a  seeming  token  of  crime  in  her  companion. 
They  walked  slowly  together,  but  the  brook  which  they  were  com- 
pelled to  cross,  fortunately  recalled  to  Henrich  an  intention  which  he 
had  formed  before  his  recent  adventure,  of  making  his  ablutions  in 
its  waters.  With  this  remembrance  came  of  course  a  sudden  con- 
sciousness of  his  appeararibe,  and  coloring  to  the  temples,  he  quickly 
explained  everything  to  his  fair  companion,  and  then  hastened  to 
the  cleansino-  wave.  It  was  no  small  relief  to  Miss  Montaio-ne  to 
feel  convinced,  as  she  now  did,  that  all  her  suspicions  were  unfounded ; 
and  when  Henrich  re-appeared,  with  freshened  features  and  smiling 
face,  the  last  vestige  of  her  fears  had  departed. 

"  Let  us  hasten  and  find  poor  Emily,"  she  said,  "  who  may  have 
fainted  upon  the  road,  for  her  fright,  I  believe,  was  greater,  if  possi- 
ble, than  mine." 

Miss  Roselle,  however,  had  reached  home  nearly  senseless,  and 
scarcely  able  to  articulate  ;  but  she  had  succeeded  in  informing  her 
frightened  hostess  that  Blanche  had  been  carried  forcibly  off  by  a 
horrid-looking  bandit,  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  that  she  herself 
had  narrowly  escaped  the  same  fate.  Her  ar^i^'al,  however,  had  for- 
tunately been  retarded  by  the  indirect  route  which  she  had  taken, 
and  before  any  alarm  could  be  communicated  to  the  neighbors, 
Blanche  and  Henrich  were  distinctly  seen  at  a  distance,  descending 
the  hill  side,  and  approaching  towards  home. 

"  She's  rescued — she's  rescued,"  shouted  Emily,  and  darting  from 
the  house,  she  hastened  to  meet  her  friend  with  every  token  of 
delight.     Visions  of  chivalrous  knights  of  the  silver  cross  or  the 


THE      KING      OF      THE      IIURONS.  49 

golden  plume,  began   to   pciss   through  her  mind,  and  she  only- 
regretted  that  she  did  not  see  her  swooning  cousin,  hanging,  with 
dishevelled  hair,  across  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  held  by  one  gaunt- 
leted  hand  of  her  rescuer,   while  another  guided  his  fiery  steed. 
Reluctantly  pardoning  the  approaching  hero  for  the  absence  of  the 
horse  and  its  accessaries,  she  was  conning  fit  phrases  to  commend 
his  bravery,  when  the  merry  smiles  of  Blanche  and  something  in 
the  appearance  of  her  companion  began  to  impress  her  with  a  mor- 
tifying presentiment  of  the  true  stat<3  of  the  case.     As  this  was  at 
once  verified  by  her  cousin's  explanation.  Miss  Roselle  was  not  a 
little  discomfited,  but  inasmuch  as  Henrich  politely  took  his  leave 
after  consigning  his  charge  to  her  care,  she  still  entertained  the  hope 
that  he  might  be  a  bandit  after  all,  who  had  indulged  in  a  sudden 
fit  of  magnanimity.      Convinced   that  this  was  not  probable,  her 
hopes  successively  fell  to  a  smuggler  and  a  housebreaker,  and  she  was 
sure  he  bore  a  resemblance  to  some  pictures  she  had  seen  of  such 
characters,  who  were  quite  apt,  she  said,  to  be  handsome,  with  small 
white  necks,  and  waving  hair.     That  he  did  not  dare  to  accompany 
them  quite  home,  that  he  departed  in  the  direction  of  the  woods  on 
pretence  of  having  forgotten  his  gun,  that  he  did  not  mention  his 
name  or  inquire  Blanche's,  or  ask  permission  to  call  and  learn  if  she 
had  quite  recovered,  were  so  many  arguments  for  her  opinion ;  and 
Miss  Montaigne,  much  amused,  did  not  care  to  controvert  a  posi- 
tion which,  however  convinced  of  its  incorrectness,  she  had  no  means 
of  disproving.       On    reaching   home  they  found   Mrs.  Sniff  fully 
inclined  to  adopt  the  views  of  Emily,  but  when  the  cousins  had  with 
much  difficulty  agreed  upon  a  tolerably  correct  description  of  the 
stranger,  she  could  not  fail  to  recognise  the  picture  as  that  of  Mr. 
Huntington,  on  whom  she  had  previously  bestowed  a  glowing  pane- 
gyric in  their  presence.     Emily  was  therefore  driven  from  the  last 
foothold  of  her  romantic   theory,  and   abaQdoning   it  with   little 
grace  she  contrived  to  throw  the  burden  of  her  blunder  on  the 
widow  to  wliose  unnecessary  warnings  all  their  alarm  was  attjibnta- 


50  THE      KINa      OF      THE      HURON S. 

ble.  Mrs.  Sniff  was  a  lady  of  meek  inaiiners,  when  policy  dictated 
humility,  and  she  shouldered  the  reproach  manfully,  only  hoping 
that  the  dear  young  ladies  might  never  find  occasion  to  credit  her 
assertions  more  fully. 

To  Henrich  the  adventure  was  fraught  with  interest ;  the  impres- 
sion made  by  the  charms  of  Blanche,  and  especially  by  her  artless 
and  graceful  deportment,  hung  around  him  like  a  spell.  Her  swoon 
and  recovery,  her  succeeding  alarm,  and  her  final  rehef  from  appre- 
hension, had  presented  with  rapid  transition,  so  many  phases  of  a 
beauty,  which  dazzled  alike  in  each,  and  seemed  an  epitome  of  every 
variety  of  lovehness.  Mingled  with  this  admiration,  a  strong  curi- 
osity pervaded  his  mind.  Who  was  this  fascinating  stranger,  and 
from  what  region,  benighted  by  her  absence,  had  she  come,  to 
irradiate  the  New  World  with  her  charms  ?  Such  were  the  ques- 
tions which,  in  a  moment  of  enthusiasm,  Henrich  mentally  pro- 
pounded, and  which,  smiling  at  his  own  ardor,  he  determined 
speedily  to  solve.  Not  that  it  could  avail  him  aught  to  know.  If 
the  bright  picture  would  bear  a  close  and  continued  inspection,  if 
there  was  no  dark  reverse  to  its  first  dazzling  surface,  his  fears  at 
once  suggested  some  other  barrier,  high  and  insuperable,  which 
would  intervene  between  himself  and  so  attractive  an  object.  Hope, 
like  the  hooded  falcon,  refused  to  soar,  and  gained  with  difficulty 
even  an  upward  glance  of  aspiration.  How  strange  a  feature  of 
the  human  heart  is  that  which  adjusts  its  doubts  to  the  magnitude 
of  its  desires,  and  sees,  by  the  light  whicb  streams  from  some 
coveted  goal,  only  the  obstacles  which  crowd  the  path  of  attain- 
ment ! 

But  Henrich  reflected  with  pleasure  that  politeness  demanded  of 
him  a  visit  to  the  strangers  after  their  singular  meeting ;  and  he  did 
not  hesitate  to  call  upon  them  on  the  same  evening.  He  was 
received  with?  evident  pleasure  by  both  the  ladies,  and  the  event  of 
the  day  formed  the  theme  of  no  httle  merriment. 

"It  was   really  very  ridiculous   of  us,   Mr.   Huntington,"   said 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  51 

Blanche,  "  and  you  must  be  generous  enough  not  to  tell  the  story 
greatly  to  our  disadvantage :  please  to  throw  in  a  few  additional 
marks  of  blood,  for  our  excuse  and,  if  possible,  the  wolf's  head  and 
ears." 

"  It  is  quite  unnecessary.  Miss  Roselle,"  replied  Henrich ;  "  the 
rivulet  in  which  I  washed  told  me  that  your  fears  were  fully  justi- 
fiable. I  httle  thought  that  my  encounter  with  the  beast  would  be 
the  cause  of  so  much  suffering." 

"  Do  not  speak  of  it,"  Blanche  rejoined  ;  "  the  joke  is  well  worth 
its  cost — but  pray,  tell  us,  what  were  your  own  sensations  at  so 
strange  an  interruption  to  your  reverie  ?" 

'*  You  will  laugh,"  answered  Henrich,  "  when  I  tell  you,  that  at 
first  I  fully  beheved  I  had  startled  a  covey  of  partridges ;  the  flutter- 
ing of  dresses  was  not  unlike  the  noise  of  their  wings,  and  the  fallen 
tree,  which  is  the  frequent  resort  of  these  birds,  doubtless  confirmed 
the  illusion." 

"  This  is  really  quite  too  bad !"  exclaimed  Miss  Montaigne  ;  "  I 
had  fully  hoped  to  make  you  own  to  a  little  fi'ight  or  trepidation, 
or  something  that  might  make  an  offset  to  our  fears  ;  but  instead  of 
that,  it  seems  we  have  all  the  ridicule  to  ourselves,  and  have  nar- 
rowly escaped  being  shot,  as  birds,  besides." 

"  You  are  truly  unfortunate,"  said  Henrich.  "  I  do  not  see  that 
your  misery  admits  of  any  palliation." 

"  Well,  well,"  continued  Blanche,  laughing ;  "  we  may  at  least 
be  thankful  that  Mr.  Huntington  did  not  mistake  us  for  owls 
instead  of  partridges,  which  our  stupidity  would  have  rendered  quite 
excusable." 

The  interview  was  prolonged  somewhat  beyond  the  limits  of  a 
formal  call,  and  when  Henrich  rose  to  depart,  it  was  with  a  reluc- 
tance that  surprised  himself  Mrs.  Sniff  politely  asked  him  to 
repeat  his  visit,  and,  unconsciously,  his  eye  turned  to  Miss  Mon- 
taigne, with^the  hope  of  hearing  the  invitation  seconded  from  the 
only  quarter  which  could  give  it  value  ;  but  Blanche,  with  instinc- 


62  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

tive  delicacy,  remained  silent,  and  Emily,  to  whom,  in  her  character 
as  an  elder  sister,  such  a  duty  more  properly  pertained,  saw  fit  to 
follow  her  cousin's  example.  After  a  moment's  hesitation,  the  visiter 
replied  ceremoniously,  and  withdrew.  With  admiration  undimi- 
nished, hope  unaugmented,  curiosity  unsated,  he  returned  slowly  and 
thoughtfully  to  his  home.  If  Miss  Montaigne  had  given  the  sim- 
plest form  of  assent  to  the  widow's  polite  request — a  bow,  a  smile, 
or  even  a  marked  look,  there  would  have  been  a  little  loop  on  which 
to  hang  a  httle  hope  of  favor  ;  now  there  was  none,  and  he  might 
not  again  seek  their  presence.  The  rumors  of  their  rank,  which 
Mrs.  Sniff  sedulously  diffused,  doubtless  by  way  of  aiding  their 
design  of  seclusion,  did  not  fail  soon  afterwards  to  reach  his  ears, 
and  confirmed  him  in  the  mortifying  belief  that  the  omission  of  the 
much  coveted  invitation  was  by  no  means  accidental. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  53 


CHAPTER     VII. 

"  She's  beautiful,  and  therefore  to  be  woo'd  ; 
She  is  woman,  and  therefore  to  be  won.'"— Shaks  ,— Henry  VI. 

Major  St.  George  Grover  was  a  man  who  had  made  some 
converts  to  the  doctrine  of  total  depravity ;  yet  he  was  far  from 
being  a  polemic,  and  might  have  found  it  difficult  to  tell  what  were 
his  own  views  on  that  much  mooted  point.  Of  an  aristocratic  and 
wealthy  family  in  England,  he  had  long  pursued  an  unremitting 
career  of  profligacy  in  that  country,  whence  he  had  but  recently 
transplanted  his  vices  into  the  New  World,  where,  it  need  scarcely  be 
said,  they  took  deep  root,  and  produced  an  abundant  harvest ;  not 
dissimilar,  indeed,  to  some  indigenous  crops  in  the  same  soil,  for 
earth,  unfortunately,  has  no  clime  in  which  sin  is  an  exotic. 

Major  Grover  was  one  of  the  individuals  who  had  accompanied 
Lord  Cornbury  on  board  the  St.  Cloud,  where  he  had  been  a  silent 
observer  of  events,  had  been  struck  with  Miss  Montaigne's  beauty, 
had  stared  at  her  with  relentless  effrontery,  and,  scarcely  aside,  had 
laughed  merrily  with  Ensign  Midge  over  some  jeering  remarks  upon 
her  charms.  He'  had  at  once  resolved  on  becoming  acquainted 
with  so  attractive  a  person  ;  and  he  saw  with  delight  that  her  com- 
panion was  a  simpleton,  and  her  protector  a  priest  of  the  proscribed 
school.  For  many  days  he  had  lost  trace  of  the  strangers,  but  he 
discovered  their  retreat  at  length,  and  learned,  by  singular  assiduity, 
the  history  and  situation  of  their  hostess,  with  the  prominent  traits 
of  her  character.  He  learned,  too,  that  beau  Shiel  was  a  distant 
relative  of  the  widow,  rather  beyond  speaking  distance,  it  is  true, 


54  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON S. 

but  privileged,  of  course,  at  any  time  to  resume  the  claims  of  kin. 
Shiel  on  his  request  did  not  hesitate  to  call  on  Mrs.  Sniff,  much  to 
her  delight,  and  to  express  his  regrets  that  the  cares  of  business  had 
prevented  him  for  some  little  time  preceding  from  keeping  bright  the 
chain  of  friendship  between  himself  and  his  respected  cousin.  But 
the  widow  said  it  was  not  to  be  spoken  of,  and  she  w^as  sure  she  was 
much  obliged  to  Mr.  Shiel  for  remembering  her  at  all ;  and  so  a 
footing  was  very  soon  established  for  that  gentleman  in  the  dove-cot ; 
and  he  knew,  as  he  expressed  himself  to  Major  Grover,  exactly 
where  he  stood.  He  did  not  know  where  the  ladies  stood,  how- 
ever, for,  equally  to  his  own  chagrin  and  that  of  Mrs.  Sniff,  they  did 
not  descend  to  the  drawing-room,  and  the  widow  was  compelled  to 
manufacture  two  extempoi-aneous  headaches  in  their  behalf.  She 
took  the  opportunity,  however,  to  hint  at  the  scrupulosity  of  rank, 
and  informed  Mr.  Shiel  that  she  would  try  to  prevent  a  recurrence 
of  his  disappointment,  if  he  would  do  her  the  honor  to  dine  with 
her  on  the  ensuing  day,  an  invitation  at  which  he  secretly  exulted, 
and  which,  after  a  very  studious  perusal  of  some  blank  tablets,  to 
make  sure  that  he  had  no  other  engagements,  he  graciously 
accepted. 

But  now  came  Mrs.  Sniff's  turn  to  be  delighted,  aye,  to  be 
thrown  into  a  very  paroxysm  of  silent  ecstasies ;  for  Mr.  Shiel 
craved  the  very  particular  favor  of  being  allowed  to  bring  with  him 
bis  friend,  the  Honorable  Major  Grover,  a  gentleman  of  ancient 
family,  who  could  trace  his  lineage  back  to  the  days  of  the  Con- 
quest, and  was  even  suspected  of  having  had  ancestors  before  that 
period ;  but  that  was  mere  conjecture.  The  favor  was  of  course 
readily  accorded,  and  the  visitor  took  his  leave,  with  a  profusion  of 
courteous  words  and  gestures,  in  which  line,  however,  he  scarcely 
transcended  the  remarkable  exploits  of  the  widow,  who  seemed  to 
respond  with  a  sort  of  mesmeric  motion  to  all  the  grimaces  and 
genuflections  of  her  visitor. 

It  had  been  a  rash  and  unconsidered  thing,  Mrs.  Sniff's  invitation 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  65 

had,  and  the  subject  lay  all  that  night  upon  her  mind  vAih  pecuhar 
heaviness.  Strange  \dsions  haunted  her  sleep.  Her  lodgers  had 
again  proved  refractory,  and  would  not  leave  their  rooms,  and  her 
illustrious  visiters  and  herself  were  vainly  trying  to  dine  upon  a  pair 
of  boiled  ej^aulettes,  which  defied  all  her  attempts  at  carving,  and 
were  quite  deficient  in  gravy  besides.  If  she  tried  to  propitiate 
Blanche,  she  was  pelted  with  glass  shppers  for  her  pains ;  and 
Emily,  taught  by  her  fi-iend's  example,  proved  equally  intractable. 
The  dews  of  anxious  thought  were  upon  the  widow's  brow  when 
she  awoke  in  the  morning,  which  was  necessarily  at  an  early  hour  ; 
for,  to  secure  such  a  result,  she  had  compelled  a  bantam  rooster, 
famed  for  his  vociferous  greetings  of  the  dawn,  to  take  lodgings  in 
her  room.  She  set  earnestly  about  the  labors  of  the  day,  and 
engaged  in  the  preparations  for  dinner  with  such  enthusiasm,  as  to 
quite  overlook  the  minor  matter  of  breakfast,  a  meal  which,  by  the 
customs  of  that  age,  was  clearly  entitled  to  precedence.  She  was 
fortunately,  however,  reminded  of  this  slight  blunder  by  a  voracious 
serving  girl,  whose  seldom-sated  appetite  proved  a  faithful  monitor 
on  the  occasion. 

Fearful  that  Blanche  and  Emily  would  in  some  way  slip 
through  her  fingers,  after  all,  it  was  not  until  the  latest  allowable 
minute  that  she  informed  them  of  her  expected  guests ;  they 
were  only  some  of  her  particular  friends,  she  said,  who  would 
take  things  quite  as  they  found  them,  and  were  not  to  be  treated 
with  ceremony.  Major  Grover  was  so  fond  of  his  beloved  England, 
that  he  longed  to  see  any  one  who  had  recently  trod  its  blessed 
shores,  so  Mr.  Shiel  had  said,  and  she  thought  it  was  a  very  pretty 
sentiment,  and  one  which  did  equal  honor  to  his  heart  and  his 
gizzard — which  last  word  was  a  la2mis  UngucB  of  the  widow,  occa- 
sioned by  a  sudden  remembrance  of  a  contemplated  chicken  fricasee, 
in  which  those  parts  of  the  dissected  fowl  were  to  figure. 

Miss  Montaigne  did  not  absent  herself  from  the  great  dinner,  for 
she   had  not  the   heart  to  disappoint   her   anxious   hostess,  and, 


5G  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

doubtless,  was  not  quite  devoid  of  curiosity  to  see  one  of  the  lions  of 
New  York  society ;  while  Emily  was  delighted  beyond  bounds  at 
an  event  so  full  of  promise.     The  visiters  came  in  due  season,  and 
were  introduced  in  due  form.     The  widow  and  Miss  Eoselle,  who 
were  both    elaborately  dressed,  seemed   equally  to  captivate   the 
obliging  Shiel,  who  quite  gave  up  the  beautiful  Blanche  to  the 
attentions  of  his  friend.     That  these  were  anything  but  pleasing  to 
her  would  have  been  quite  apparent  to  an  indifferent  observer ;  but 
Grover,  being  quite  fascinated  by  his  companion,  fell  into  the  com- 
mon error  of  believing  that  she  was  equally  pleased.     It  will  not  be 
necessary  to  record  more  minutely  the  events  of  a  day,  memorable 
only  for  laying  the  foundation  of  an  acquaintance,  which  the  major 
strove  sedulously  to  improve,  and  which  led  to  some  striking  results. 
For   a   while   he   persecuted   Blanche   with    attentions   seemingly 
respectful,  but  which  took  no  form  sufficiently  definite  to  admit  of 
eflfectual  repulse.     She  avoided  him  when  she  could,  and  when  she 
could  not,  was  coldly  civil,  and  ceremoniously  polite.     Thus  affairs 
stood  for  a  few  weeks,  when   an   event  occurred  which  wrought  a 
marked  change  in  the  designs  of  the  suitor.     He  chanced  one  even- 
ing at  a  restaurateur's  to  hear  the  name  of  Roselle  pronounced  in  a 
foreign  accent,  and  upon  observation  he  discovered  two  Frenchmen 
of  the  lower  class,  conversing  together  in  their  own  language,  and 
in  a  low  tone  of  voice.     A  little  attention  enabled  him  to  perceive 
that  the  colloquists  were  sailors  who  had  formed  part  of  the  crew  of 
the  St.  Cloud,  and  that  they  were  discussing   some  events  connected 
with  its  capture.     Seemingly  engrossed  in  some  other  matter,  he 
contrived  to  pay  the  closest  attention  to  their  discourse,  which  was 
the  less  guarded,  because  they  supposed  their  dialect  to  be  unintelli- 
gible to  the  other  individuals  present. 

From  this  conversation  Grover  learned  the  important  fact  that  the 
younger  of  the  two  ladies  passing  under  the  name  of  Roselle  was,  in 
reality,  a  daughter  of  the  celebrated  Baron  Montaigne,  who,  on  arriving 
at  New  York,  had  assumed  the  obscurer  name  which  she  now  bore, 


THE      KING      OF      THE     HURONS.  67 

and  that  she  only  awaited  vSorae  expected  opportunity  to  be  provided 
by  her  father,  for  leaving  the  city.  This  information  was  full  of 
interest  to  the  listener,  and  for  a  while  he  could  not  decide  how  best 
to  avail  himself  of  its  advantages.  Despite  his  self-flattery,  he  was 
conscious  that  he  had  as  yet  made  no  advances  in  Blanche's  affec- 
tions adequate  to  his  exertions ;  and  it  was  now  a  solace  to  his  pride 
to  beheve  that  if  he  was  baffled  it  was  by  one,  conscious  of  rank 
temporarily  obscured,  which  might  claim  an  equality  with  his  own. 
What  then  if  he  should  abandon  his  irrational  prejudices  against 
matrimony,  and  seek  this  peerless  beauty  with  an  honest  love  ?  The 
hymeneal  fetters  could  not  be  as  onerous  as  they  had  been  repre- 
sented, especially  if  one  were  disposed  to  wear  them  loosely,  as  he 
certainly  should  do.  Blanche  would  adorn  any  circle  ;  her  dowry, 
if  not  immediate,  would,  doubtless,  be  princely  at  some  future  day ; 
and  he  would  carry  her  back  to  England  to  eclipse  the  crowds  of 
Lady  Janes  and  Lady  Annes,  whose  virtuous  mamas  had  denounced 
him  as  an  irreclaimable  rou^^  and  had  shown  as  much  perturbation 
at  his  appearance  in  their  guarded  circles,  as  the  cluttering  hen  when 
the  hawk  hovers  in  the  air.  He  would,  besides,  have  the  credit  of 
great  generosity  and  disinterestedness ;  for  he  would  woo  and  wed 
the  stranger  in  her  assumed  name,  seemingly  ignorant  of  her  true 
rank  and  expected  patrimony.  Thus  would  he  also  pay  the  higher 
compliment  to  her  attractions,  and  make  more  sure  of  her  regard. 
But  on  the  last  point  he  indulged  no  fears ;  the  thought  of  a  refusal 
did  not  enter  into  his  mind,  and  would  have  been  scouted  as 
the  very  ravings  of  delirium.  Having  thus  resolved,  he  kept  his 
own  counsel  and  lost  no  time  in  inaction.  There  was,  at  once,  a 
marked  change  in  the  character  of  his  addresses  to  Blanche,  who, 
finding  no  coolness  sufficient  to  discourage  him,  rejoiced  at  the 
prospect  of  being  soon  able  to  give  him  a  peremptory  dismissal. 
She  was  not  kept  long  awaiting  such  an  opportunity,  but  found  it  a 
difficult  thing  to  convince  her  astonished  suitor  that  she  really 
rejected  his  offer.    It  was  again  and  again  renewed,  and  the  haughty 

3* 


58  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

major  found  himself  under  the  mortifying  necessity  of  crying  up  his 
value,  and  explaining  the  magnanimity  of  his  proposal.  His  wealth, 
his  rank,  his  family,  were  all  dilated  upon  as  creating  a  disparity  of 
advantages  in  his  favor,  which  might  w^ell  entitle  him  to  look  for  a 
different  answer.  But  no  different  answer  came.  Blanche  was 
obliged  to  him  for  his  good  opinion ;  she  had  endeavored,  since  the 
first  suspicion  of  his  sentiments,  to  discourage  him,  and  she  begged 
that  her  decision  might  be  considered  final  and  conclusive. 

Grover  retired  from  this  interview, — not  a  lover, — but  a  madman. 
Opposition  had  inflamed  his  passion,  wounded  his  vanity,  awakened 
his  pride,  and  called  into  intense  action  every  evil  part  of  his  nature. 
He  was  capable  of  making  a  mock  of  every  moral  obligation,  when 
his  mind  w^as  undisturbed  ;  what  he  could  do  in  its  present  dangerous 
ebullition,  remains  to  be  seen. 


THE     KINa     OF     THE     HURONS.  59 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

"Win  her  with  gifts,  if  she  respect  not  words ; 
Dumb  jewels  often,  in  their  silent  kind, 
More  quick  than  words,  do  move  a  woman's  mind." 

—  Two  Oentlemen  of  Verona. 
"  Within  the  oyster's  shell  uncouth 
The  purest  pearl  may  hide  : — 
Trust  uie— you'll  find  a  heart  of  truth 
Within  that  rough  outside."— Jl/rs.  Osgood. 

The  movements  of  Major  Grover  for  the  few  days  succeeding  the 
events  last  related  were  of  a  singular  character.  He  was  much 
alone,  was  often  wrapt  in  contemplation,  and  occasionally  gave  way 
to  unusual  expressions  of  feehng.  At  times  he  was  closeted  with  a 
rough  sailor-like  man,  to  whom,  in  the  presence  of  third  parties,  he 
talked  loudly  of  cargoes  and  consignments,  but  for  whose  private  ear 
he  had  other  themes.  Captain  Snell  had  just  arrived  in  the  city, 
and  his  ship,  anchored  off  Staten  Island,  had  not  yet  been  able  to 
get  into  port,  notwithstanding  the  most  favorable  winds  that  ever 
wafted  keel.  He  had,  indeed,  a  rich  cargo  of  goods,  which  he  had 
procured  with  much  labor  and  peril  on  the  high  seas,  and  he  wanted 
a  market  and  protection  while  he  disposed  of  his  property :  he 
wanted,  as  he  significantly  said,  "  to  be  winked  at"  by  the  govern- 
ment. He  needed  in  short  exactly  what  Grover  could  procure  for 
him,  which  the  latter  very  well  knew,  and  he  played  his  card 
accordingly. 

"  It's  only  a  wedding  trip.  Captain  Snell,"  he  said,  summing  up 
the  substance  of  many  previous  remarks  to  his  acquiescent  auditor ; 
"  a  few  weeks'  absence,  a  httle  assistance,  perhaps,  in  conveying  my 


60  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

bride  to  the  vessel,  and  your  evidence  if  necessary  afterwards,  that 
it  was  all  fair  and  voluntary — that's  all." 

"That's  all  easy  enough,  major,"  rephed  the  sailor, — "I  did 
something  such  a  job  once  for  a  count  in  Lisbon,  and  she  was  quiet 
enough  when  we  got  back  ;  they  won't  prosecute  their  husbands,  of 
course,  and  have  to  make  the  best  of  it." 

"  That's  it,  exactly,"  said  Grover,  who  next  proceeded  to  explain 
the  details  of  his  proposed  plan,  to  all  of  which  the  other  listened 
attentively,  and  pronounced  it  easily  practicable. 

"It  isn't  anything  at  all,"  he  said ;  "I  thought  it  must  be  a  hfe 
and  death  aflfair,  at  least,  from  the  way  you  tacked  and  shifted 
around  the  subject  before  you  came  to  it ;  but  it  aint  anything,  that 
aint,  and  she  hves  where  she  is  so  easily  to  be  got  at,  too  ;  just  let 
me  know  when  you  are  ready — that's  all." 

Grover,  who  was  quite  in  earnest  in  his  infernal  scheme,  proceeded 
to  make  the  necessary  arrangements,  yet  without  taking  any  one 
fully  into  his  confidence.  The  temporary  absence  of  the  wddow  and 
Emily  was  to  be  procured ;  and  Shiel  w^as  considered  the  fitting 
agent  for  this  part  of  the  entei^^rise.  On  the  day  selected  he  invited 
the  ladies  to  take  a  drive  with  him  on  Long  Island ;  and  easily 
accepting  Blanche's  excuse,  which  had  been  anticipated,  he  found 
httle  difficulty  in  persuading  the  other  two  to  accompany  him. 
That  there  was  mischief  on  foot  of  some  kind,  he  very  wtII  knew, 
but  of  what  particular  variety,  he  w^as  ignorant.  It  would  have  been 
easy  to  lure  the  servant  girl  from  home,  who  was  a  colored  slave 
about  twenty  years  old  ;  but  as  such  a  measure  might  excite 
Blanche's  suspicions,  it  w^as  resolved  rather  to  kidnap  and  dispose  of 
her  at  some  southern  market.  UnwilHng,  however,  to  resort  to 
these  extreme  measures,  while  there  remained  the  slightest  hopes  of 
success  by  milder  means,  and  still  flattering  himself  that  Miss  Mon- 
taigne might  already  have  repented  her  decision,  Grover  resolved  to 
make  first  a  final  efl:brt  at  persunsion.  He  had,  indeed,  exhausted 
every  variety  of  blandishment ;  he  had  practised  all  those  pleasing 


THE      KING      OF      THE      II U  R  O  N  S .  61 

arts  whicli  a  life  of  gallantry  had  tanglit  him ;  but  he  would  make 
one  additional  effort,  and  fortify  it,  if  necessary,  by  disclosing  to 
Blanche  the  mesh  with  whicli  she  was  surrounded,  and  from  which 
she  could  indulge  no  hope  of  escape. 

It  was  a  calm  afternoon  in  June  that  had  been  selected  for  this 
daring  and  atrocious  exploit,  and  Miss  Montaigne,  seated  alone  in  the 
little  parlor  which  has  been  described,  was  reflecting  upon  the 
marked  events  which  had  recently  diversified  her  life,  and  changed 
it  from  one  of  singular  monotony  to  one  of  unusual  and  varied 
action.  What  fortune  was  in  store  for  her  in  that  mysterious  future 
which  seemed  thickly  shrouded  from  her  view,  it  was  impossible  to 
conjecture.  Separated  since  infancy  from  every  near  relation,  she 
was  about  to  join  a  parent  who  manifested  no  affection  for  her,  and 
one  whose  Huron  wife  and  half  Huron  daughter  would  occupy 
towards  her  the  legal  relation  of  mother  and  sister.  With  such 
companions  she  was  to  pass  her  time,  buried  in  the  forest,  and  even 
of  less  consequence  than  her  Indian  sister,  who  doubtless  at  least 
possessed  the  affection  and  regard  of  her  savage  relations.  Of  Myr- 
tle and  her  mother  she  could  only  think  as  of  tawny  and  blanketed 
women,  like  those  of  their  race  whom  she  had  seen  during  her 
abode  in  New  York.  It  was  a  dismal  prospect  to  contemplate 
closely :  but  Blanche  would  not  yield  to  despondency ;  there  was, 
after  all,  something  of  wildness  and  romance  in  the  picture,  and  her 
playful  imagination  gave  to  it  tints  and  hues  which  belonged  less  to 
the  subject  than  to  the  joyous  and  innocent  heart  from  which  they 
emanated.  She  resolved,  too,  to  find  happiness  in  duty  ;  she  would 
soften  her  father's  heart  by  unremitting  kindness ;  she  would  educate 
her  Indian  sister,  and  surprise  her  with  the  thousand  novelties  of 
civilized  life  ;  she  would  even  make  a  friend  of  the  dreaded  baroness, 
if  the  latter  were  not  altogether  a  cannibal,  and  past  the  hope  of 
reclamation.  What  pets,  too,  she  would  have  !  A  pair  of  gentle 
fawns  should  feed  daily  from  her  hands,  and  race  with  her  through 
the  fields  ;  the  rabbits  should  burrow  in   the  c^arden  ;  the  birds 


62  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

should  build  beside  her  windows;  and  the  clambering  flowers, 
exhaling  an  atmosphere  of  fragrance,  should  tempt  the  bee,  and  the 
tiny  hummer,  and  the  gorgeous  butterfly ;  and  all  these  would  be 
her  friends  and  playmates. 

As  Blanche  gazed  from  time  to  time  out  of  the  window  while 
engaged  in  these  reflections,  her  eye  was  attracted  by  several  rough 
looking  individuals  in  the  garb  of  sailors,  who  were  idly  sauntering 
in  the  vicinity.  One  leaned  indolently  against  a  post  at  a 
little  distance  from  the  house,  trolling  some  nautical  chorus ; 
another  lay  stretched  upon  the  grass  on  the  common ;  and  a  party 
of  three,  further  towards  the  river,  w^ere  chatting  and  smoking 
beneath  a  tree,  but  not  ginng  way,  as  might  be  expected  from 
sailors  on  furlough,  to  any  noisy  mirth.  She  felt  some  alarm  at 
first,  remembering  the  isolated  situation  of  the  house,  but  inasmuch 
as  the  men  remained  quiet,  and  made  no  nearer  approach,  her 
apprehensions  soon  subsided.  She  remembered  the  ludicrous  results 
of  her  fears  in  the  forest  a  few  weeks  preceding,  and  resolved  not 
again  to  play  so  childish  a  part.  She  had,  indeed,  withdrawn  her 
eyes  from  the  landscape  and  was  again  wrapt  in  contemplation, 
when  she  became  suddenly  conscious  that  she  was  no  longer  alone, 
and  on  looking  up  she  discovered  the  detested  Grover  at  her  side. 
He  had  entered  the  room  vnth.  a  silent  and  cat-like  motion,  and 
there  was  something  in  the  bland  expression  of  his  face  and  in  the 
soft,  purring  tone  of  his  voice  as  he  addressed  her,  equally  feline  in 
its  character. 

"  I  have  again  come  unbidden,"  he  said ;  "  may  I  hope  not 
entirely  unwelcome  ?  One  of  my  vessels,  long  due,  has  arrived 
since  I  left  your  presence,  and  I  have  hastened  to  lay  some  of  its 
treasures  at  your  feet." 

An  attendant  at  his  signal  entered  the  room,  and  depositing  a 
large  package  upon  a  table,  immediately  withdrew :  Grover  followed 
him  to  the  door,  which  he  carefully  closed,  and  returning,  proceeded 
to  open  the  parcel,  while  Blanche,  v/ho  had.  l^efore  made  several 
ineffectual  efforts  to  speak,  rose  suddenly  to  her  feet. 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  63 

"  Do  not  open  it,"  she  said,  speaking  with  some  vehemence,  yet 
in  a  low,  trembhng  voice,  "  do  not  leave  it,  Major  Grover.  I  can 
accept  no  favors  which  I  have  neither  the  power  nor  the  ^^ish  to 
requite  ;  if  I  have  not,  heretofore,  spoken  plainly " 

"  But  too  plainly,  my  dear  Miss  Roselle ;  but  ladies  are  proverbially 
changeful,  even  as  the  shifting  colors  of  this  beautiful  silk,"  unfolding 
and  displaying  a  piece  of  the  most  gorgeous  fabric,  and  pihng  upon 
it  a  profusion  of  rich  laces — "  these  might  make  bridal  robes  for  a 
princess  ;  and  here,"  he  continued,  unclasping  a  box  of  costly  jewelry, 
"  are  ornaments  which  would  adorn  all  other  beauty,  but  which  will 
receive  new  lustre  fi*om  Miss  Blanche  Roselle." 

Miss  Montaigne  looked  on  with  scorn,  and  cast  frequent  glances 
towards  the  door,  as  if  with  a  presentiment  that  an  attempt  at  egress 
might  be  opposed ;  there  was  something  strange  and  threatening  in 
the  eye  and  manner  of  her  suitor,  which  impressed  her  with  vague 
forebodings ;  and,  seemingly  without  design,  she  slightly  changed 
her  position  to  one  more  favorable  for  flight.  The  movement  was 
not  unnoticed  by  Grover,  who  also,  ^vitli  apparent  inadvertence, 
placed  himself  between  her  and  the  door,  and  somewhat  changing 
the  tone  of  his  voice,  continued : 

"  I  have  made  all  allowances  for  the  modesty,  which,  Csesar-like, 
has  thrice  refused  what  it  intended  fi'om  the  first  to  accept.  My 
rank  and  wealth  have,  I  know,  rendered  you  incredulous  as  to  the 
honesty  of  my  intentions ;  you  have,  perhaps,  even  heard  some 
old-wives'  tales  of  deserted  flower-girls  or  heart-broken  milk-maids, 
whose  cause  you  may  be  chivalrous  enough  to  wish  to  avenge — but 
to  you,  beautiful  Blanche,  I  swear  perpetual  fealty ;  for  your  sake,  I 
will  bear  the  chains  of  Hymen,  and  as  you  so  much  mistrust  me,  I 
will  ask  not  even  the  favor  of  a  smile  until  we  are  wedded." 

A  passing  color  and  a  quick  breathing  alone  told  of  the  suppressed 
indignation  of  the  listener  ;  she  did  not  dare  to  reply  ;  the  words  of 
her  companion  were  those  of  entreaty,  but  his  voice  was  in  a  tone 
of  command,  and  there  was  a  menacing  expression  in  his  face,  which 


64  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

overpowered  her  with  fear.      She  cast  a  hurried  glance  fi'om  the 
window  in  the  anxious  hope  of  seeing  Emily  and  Mrs.  Sniff  returning, 
or  of  seeing  some  visiter  approaching  the  house  ;   but  there  was 
nothing  that  gave  prospect  of  relief.     She  did  not  dare  to  attempt  to 
pass  out  lest  she  should  learn  that  she  was  really  a  prisoner,  and  should 
precipitate  whatever  of  evil  she  had  to  fear.     She  resolved,  therefore, 
to  gain  time  by  parley,  but  even  in  this  design  she  seemed  to  be 
anticipated  by  her  persecutor.     He  continued  to  urge  his  suit  as  yet 
in  respectful  language,  but  the  uneasiness  of  his  air,  and  his  frequent 
outward  glances,  seemed  to  indicate  the  expected  approach  of  some 
other  party.     He  was,  in  fact,  aAvaiting  the  promised  arrival  of  a 
legal  functionary,  who  was  authorized  to  tie  the  matrimonial  knot, 
and  on  whose  perfect  subserviency  to  his  interests  he  could  depend ; 
on  his  approach,  if  persuasion  continued  fruitless,  he  had  determined 
at  once  to  disclose  to  Blanche  her  peril,  and  make  the  alternative  propo- 
sition of  instantaneous  marriage  or  abduction.     The  suddenness  of  the 
demand,  the  imminency  of  the  danger,  the  few  minutes  which  she 
would  be  allowed  to    decide,  combined  with  the  force   of   prior 
arguments,  he  did  not  doubt  would  overcome  every  obstacle  and 
produce  a  complete  acquiescence.     But  while  he  waited,  he  grew 
momentarily  impatient ;  delays  were  dangerous  ;  there  was  indeed 
no  fear  of  the  return  of  Shiel  and  his  companions,  and  one  of  the 
sentinels  was  even  prepared  to  prevent    the    casual  approach  of 
strangers  to  the  house,  by  the  alarm  of  an  infectious  disease  which 
was  to  be  sedulously  shunned.     But  still  he  felt  that  haste  was 
desirable  ;  and  although  it  Avas  not  yet  the  appointed  time  for  his 
coadjutor's  arrival,  he  resolved  to  go  personally  and    expedite  his 
movements.     Blanche,  he  thought,  was  yet  unalarmed,  and  although, 
perhaps,  angry  at  his  pertinacity,  she  did  not,  he  believed,  entertain 
the  least  suspicion  of  his  design.     She  would  not,  therefore,  think 
of  flight,  and  if   she    attempted  could  not  accomplish  it,  for  the 
pirates  had  orders  to  prevent  her  departure,  and  if  she  persisted  in 
going  or  in  making  an  outcry,  they  were  to  carry  her  forcibly  to 


THE     KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  65 

the  vessel.  He  departed,  therefore,  without  giving  her  any  inti- 
mation of  his  intended  return,  and  only  paused  near  the  door  to 
give  directions  to  one  of  the  banditti  for  additional  vigilance  during 
the  few  minutes  of  his  expected  absence.  But  Miss  Montaigne,  as 
has  been  already  seen,  was  by  no  means  unalarnied  ;  her  fir^t  fears 
had  been  allayed,  but  the  strange  deportment  of  Grover  and  the 
continued  presence  of  the  sailors  who  still  lounged  listlessty  about 
the  premises,  now  combined  to  excite  her  worst  apprehensions. 

It  has  been  said  that  there  was  in  the  house  besides  Miss 
Montaigne,  one  individual,  too  insignificant  to  be  dreaded,  even  as 
an  informant,  yet  whom  Grover  intended  to  include,  if  convenient, 
in  his  kidnapping  enter|)nse.  Jule,  for  such  was  the  slave's  name, 
had  belonged  to  the  Sniffs  from  childhood,  and  her  faculties  had 
been  somewhat  sharpened  by  the  necessity  of  inventing  expedients 
to  evade  some  of  her  mistress's  inordinate  exactions  of  labor.  She 
was  a  good-natured  girl,  Vt'arm  in  her  attachments,  and,  since  the 
arrival  of  Miss  Montaigne,  had  manifested  the  greatest  pleasure  in 
serving  her.  Unused  to  words  of  kindness  and  consideration  from 
those  above  her,  Jule  had  seen  the  beautiful  stranger  manifesting  an 
occasional  interest  in  her  welfare,  which  had  astonished  and  delighted 
her ;  and  the  heart  of  the  negress  had  closed  with  avidity  upon 
this  rare  object  of  affection.  Nothing  could  be  too  good,  nothing 
too  nice  for  Miss  Blanche  :  and  the  least  smile  of  approval  from  her 
was  more  than  a  reward  for  every  exertion  of  the  humble  servitor. 

Powerless  as  such  an  ally  might  seem.  Miss  Montaigne  hastened 
to  seek  her  counsel  and  aid  ;  but  Jule,  already  alarmed,  and  flying 
from  what  seemed  the  post  of  more  imminent  danger,  met  her  with 
intelhgence  that  confirmed  all  her  fears,  and  added  tenfold  to  their 
intensity.  She  had  herself  watched  the  strange  movements  of  the 
men,  had  noticed  their  sailor-like  garb,  and  had  overheard  Grover's 
instructions,  on  departing,  for  a  vigilant  watch,  and  forbidding  any 
eo-ress  from  the  house.  There  was  little  time  for  reflection ;  and 
Blanche  implored  the  negress  to  make  an  attempt  to  escape  and 


66  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

seek  assistance.  That  Miss  Montaigne  was  the  principal  object  of 
pursuit,  and  that  whatever  danger  impended  over  herself  would  not 
be  enhanced  by  flight,  even  if  unsuccessful,  Jule  readily  saw ;  but 
even  if  it  had  been  otherwise,  she  would  have  refused  nothing  to 
Blanche.  With  ready  wit,  too,  she  reflected  that  if  she  went  out, 
apparently  unalarraed,  and  as  if  bound  on  some  ordinary  errand, 
she  might  perhaps  be  allowed  to  pass  unmolested.  Her  absence 
might  even  be  considered  an  advantage,  inasmuch  as  the  ab- 
duction of  one  individual  could  of  course  be  accomplished  more 
safely  and  quietly  than  that  of  two.  Hanging  a  basket,  therefore, 
upon  her  arm,  and  hastily  informing  Blanche  of  her  design,  she 
sauntered  lazily  from  the  door,  singing,  with  half-choked  voice,  a 
negro  refrain,  and  carefully  dissembling  her  fears.  Her  exit  was 
from  the  rear  door,  and  her  course  through  the  garden  towards  a 
lane  in  its  rear,  led  directly  past  two  of  the  guards.  They  had 
been  instructed  to  prevent  any  attempt  at  flight ;  but  they  had  also 
been  ordered  not  to  excite  any  premature  alarm  or  suspicion  on  the 
part  of  the  inmates  of  the  house,  and  for  a  moment  they  hesitated 
on  their  proper  course.  Here  was  evidently  no  flight ;  the  slave 
would  soon  return,  and  if  not,  her  absence  would  rather  do  good 
than  harm ;  and  with  this  view  of  the  matter,  they  had  well  nigh 
permitted  her  to  pass,  when  one,  still  undecided,  suddenly  accosted 
her. 

"  Avast — there,  avast,  Nan  !  You  sing  merrily  for  a  blackbu'd — 
just  drop  alongside  here,  and  tell  us  where  you  are  bound  to ;  't  aint 
every  one  that  dares  to  sail  openly  under  such  dark  colors — is  it, 
Jack  r 

"  You  mind  yer  own  business,  and  git  out  of  our  garden,  afore 
Mrs.  Snifl"  sees  you,  or  you'll  ketch  it,"  answered  Jule.  "  I'm  going 
to  pick  peas  over  in  dat  field  ;  '  Massa  eat  de  sugar.  Sambo  git  de 
cane  ;' "  and  she  passed  tremblingly  on  towards  the  fence. 

"  Blast  the  blackamoor !"  exclaimed  the  sailor,  following  as  he 
spoke ;  "  can't  you  answer  a  civil  hail  better  than  that  ?  bring  to,  I 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  67 

say,  and  show  your  papers,  or  we'll  blow  you  out  of  water — but  if 
as  how,"  he  continued,  as  Jule  slackened  her  pace,  and  looked  back, 
"if  as  how  you  are  really  under  saihng  orders  for  that  field,  over 
there " 

"  I  didn't  say  any  such  thing,"  replied  Jule,  "  and  I  haint  got  any 
papers,  nor  notting  elst  but  dis  ere  pail." 

"  Let  her  go.  Bill,  or  elst  don't  let  her  go,  one  or  t'  other,"  said 
the  other  sailor ;  "  what's  the  use  of  jabbering  to  the  wench  ?  / 
says,  let  her  go,  and  very  good  riddance  it  is." 

"  And  /  says,  mebbe  not,  Mr.  Jack,"  said  the  first  speaker,  who 
seemed  to  imbibe  the  spirit  of  contradiction  from  the  interference  of 
his  companion  ;  "you  just  bring  her  to  a  minute,  while  I  run  around 
and  ask  Bluff  about  it,  kase,  you  see,  it's  a  kind  of  a  nice  question, 
after  all." 

So  poor  Jule  was  brought  to,  and  compelled  to  await  the  decision 
of  higher  authority. 

"  It's  a  high  time  of  day,"  she  said,  with  affected  wrath, — "  if 
people  can't  come  for  to  go  in  their  own  mistress's  garden,  which 
they've  lived  with  twenty  years — in  broad  dayhght,  it  is — you  let 
go  my  arm,  you  scaramouch,  you  !" 

"  Steady,  lass,  steady,"  replied  Jack,  "  least  said,  soonest  mended ; 
I  aint  no  scarrymouse,  neither,  and  it's  well  for  you  you  aint  aboard, 
or  you  might  get  a  dozen  or  two  for  your  impudence." 

With  emotions  that  cannot  be  portrayed,  Blanche  beheld  from  a 
window  the  scene  which  has  been  described ;  she  saw  Jule  unac- 
costed,  nearly  pass  the  guard,  and,  after  a  temporary  detention, 
resume  her  progress,  only  to  be  a  second  time  stopped  and  questioned, 
and  held  rudely  by  the  arm.  While  she  waited  with  fearful  mis- 
ginngs  for  the  result,  the  bandit,  who  has  been  called  Bill,  returned 
from  his  embassy,  and,  speaking  in  a  voice  that  reached  the  ears  of 
Miss  Montaigne,  said,  "  Mr.  Bluff  says  there  aint  so  much  as  a  cat 
to  go  out  of  the  house,  'cause  she  mout  be  a  kind  of  carrier-pigeon, 
like,  you  see,  which  this  ere  thing  don't  look  much  like,  of  course  ; 


68  THE     KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

but  then  she  must  trot  back  notwithstanding,  and  no  words  about  it 
either." 

Jule  hesitated  for  a  moment ;  but  there  was  nothing  to  do  but 
submit,  and  with  a  hea\y  heart  she  returned  to  the  house,  where 
Blanche  was  already  gi\'ing  way  to  all  the  anguish  of  despair. 


THE      KINO      OF      THE      HURONS.  69 


CHAPTER    IX. 

"  What  masking  stuff  is  here  ? 
What's  this  7— a  sleeve  1  'tis  like  a  demircannon."— Tcmm^  of  the  Shrew. 

If  consternation  had  paralysed  the  faculties  of  Miss  Montaigne,  it 
gave  new  energies  to  the  slave.  With  the  celerity  and  nearly  the 
fierceness  of  an  imprisoned  wild-cat,  she  flew  from  window  to  window, 
seeking  to  catch  sight  of  some  casual  passer,  to  whom  she  might 
shriek  for  help ;  but  no  one  was  visible,  and  every  hope  of  succor 
from  without  was  abandoned.  Yet  her  resources  did  not  seem  to 
be  exhausted.  Pausing  a  moment  for  thought,  she  suddenly  darted 
up  the  kitchen  stairway,  and  before  Blanche  could  conjecture  her 
designs,  she  re-appeared  with  various  articles  of  apparel,  both  of  her 
own  and  Miss  Montaigne,  including  the  bonnet  and  veil  of  the  latter 
and  an  ample  hood  of  her  own. 

"  Be  quick,"  she  said,  signifying  her  meaning  more  by  motions 
than  words,  "  let  us  change  clothes — dey  will  chase  Jule,  Miss 
Blanche  will  run  away." 

Miss  Montaigne  startled  at  the  strange  proposition,  having  no 
confidence  in  its  success,  and  unwilling  to  subject  the  slave  to  the 
increased  peril  which  success  would  involve,  hesitated  to  assent ;  but 
Jule,  disposing  summarily  of  her  objections,  proceeded  to  partly 
disrobe  her  young  mistress  and  to  substitute  her  own  coarse  and 
clumsy  garments  for  the  elegant  apparel  of  the  other.  The  dimen- 
sions of  the  negress  were,  fortunately,  not  materially  diiferent  fi-om 
those  of  Miss  Montaigne,  but  there  were  some  awkward  discrepancies 
of  shape,  which  it  required  ingenious  expedients  to  overcome.     An 


70 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 


ample  frock  of  the  fabric  usually  called  linsey-woolsey  easily  concealed 
the  graceful  outline  of  Blanche's  form,  but  at  the  same  time  threw 
into  more  apparent  disproportion  the  tiny  feet  and  ancles  which  it 
left  re\ealed.  This,  however,  did  not  escape  the  eye  of  Jule,  who 
chuckled  as  she  produced  three  pairs  of  coarse  hose,  with  which  she 
proceeded  to  indue  the  dangerous  members ;  and  when  a  pair  of 
thick,  heavy  shoes,  tied  with  leathern  strings,  was  added  to  the  equip- 
ment, she  declared  that  the  effect  was  grand,  and  that  the  feet  were 
exactly  like  her  own.  The  wide,  dark  hood  was  next  thrown  over 
Blanche's  head  and  neck,  and  drawn  close  in  front,  care  being  taken 
that  no  stray  ringlet  should  peep  from  beneath  its  edges. 

The  work  of  disguising  thus  far  had  proceeded  rapidly,  although 
with  but  httle  diminution  of  terror  on  the  part  of  Miss  Montaigne, 
who  expected  momentarily  that  the  return  of  Grover  would  terminate 
her  hopes  of  flight.  They  had  but  a  few  minutes  at  the  furthest  to 
complete  their  task,  and  yet  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  labor 
remained  to  be  done.  It  was,  indeed,  no  easy  matter  to  array  the 
coarse  and  crooked  frame  of  the  negress  in  a  lady's  dress ;  yet, 
inasmuch  as  the  fortunate  correspondence  in  height  obviated  what 
might  have  proved  the  most  insuperable  difficulty,  much  was  hoped 
from  the  trial.  No  ingenuity,  indeed,  could  diminish  the  ample 
shoulders  of  Jule,  or  close  the  wide-gaping  dress  of  silk  around  her 
waist ;  yet  a  hght  shawl,  judiciously  arranged,  partly  concealed  the 
defect.  The  feet  and  ancles,  of  dimensions  hopelessly  large,  defied 
every  attempt  at  compression,  and  when  viewed  in  connexion  with 
the  backward  extension  of  the  heel,  threatened  a  quick  betrayal  of 
the  deceit.  Although  clad  in  stockings  of  fine  texture,  and  in  shoes 
slitted  at  heel  and  toe  to  increase  their  width,  little  could  be  hoped 
in  regard  to  them,  excepting  that  in  the  confusion  of  flight  they 
might  escape  observation.  Not  that  Jule  herself  perceived  the  diffi- 
culty ;  however  sagacious  on  other  points  she  saw  no  ground  for 
apprehension  here,  and  eyed  the  arrangement  with  much  com- 
placency. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  *71 

"  'Em  looks  berry  well,  Missa  Blaiiclie,"  she  said ;  "  daze  a  little 
larger  dan  yours,  a  berry  leetle,  but  iiuffin  to  signify." 

Miss  Montaigne's  bonnet  and  veil  were  next  carefully  adjusted 
upon  the  girl ;  and  to  perfect  as  far  as  possible  the  disguise,  Blanche 
quickly  severed  a  few  of  her  glossy  ringlets,  and  securing  them  to 
the  crisped  hair  of  the  negress,  suffered  the  ends  to  fall  a  little 
below  the  edge  of  the  bonnet  upon  every  side.  The  sable  throat 
was  carefully  concealed  by  a  collar,  the  veil  drawn  closely  over  the 
face,  and  the  hands  enclosed  in  gloves  of  black,  which,  although 
bursting  in  every  part,  revealed  no  contrasting  color  from  within, 
and  still  seemed  whole.  The  adjustment  of  the  curls  was  a  happy 
thought,  and  did  more  to  complete  the  illusion  than  almost  every- 
thing beside  ;  for,  hanging  around  the  poor  slave's  neck  with  a 
graceful  and  tremulous  motion,  nothing  could  be  less  suggestive  of 
the  woolly  treasures  to  which  they  were  appended ;  they  hinted 
rather  of  the  snowy  cheeks  and  neck  of  their  true  proprietress,  which, 
with  many  other  charms,  might  well  be  supposed  to  he  hidden 
beneath  the  flowing  veil. 

Such  as  they  were,  the  disguises  were  at  length  completed,  and 
Blanche  began  to  indulge  a  faint  hope  of  success.  Imitating,  as 
best  she  could,  the  attitude  and  gait  of  the  slave,  she  hastily  tutored 
the  latter  to  mimic  her  own  ;  and  enjoining  short  steps,  and  as 
economic  a  display  of  feet  as  was  practicable,  the  parties  prepared 
for  flight.  The  building  fronted  the  river,  at  the  distance  of  about 
thirty  rods  from  the  shore,  and  the  intermediate  space  was  an  ope 
field,  sparsely  studded  with  trees,  which  on  the  side  nearest  to  the 
settled  part  of  the  city  drew  more  closely  together,  and  screened  the 
landscape  from  any  distant  observation.  The  garden  which  has 
been  named  was  situated  behind  the  house,  and  extended  back  to 
an  unfrequented  lane,  which,  at  the  distance  of  some  twenty  rods 
southward,  communicated  with  one  of  the  suburban  streets  of  the 
city. 

It  was  arranged  that  the  negress  in  her  assumed  character  should 


12 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS 


make  a  sudden  exit  from  the  rear  of  the  dwelUng,  and  having  thus 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  two  men  who  had  before  challenged 
her,  should  dart  around  the  house,  and  run  towards  the  river,  while 
Blanche,  as  soon  as  the  sailors  had  started  in  pursuit,  was  to  make 
her  escape  through  the  garden  and  the  lane.  The  approach  of  the 
critical  moment  at  first  unnerved  Miss  Montaigne,  and  seemed  to 
paralyse  her  powei*s  ;  but  sinking  for  a  moment  to  her  knees  to 
implore  the  Divine  protection,  she  rose  >vith  renewed  courage,  and 
followed  her  companion  to  the  door. 

Jule  set  out  with  good  courage,  and  at  a  nimble  pace  ;  and, 
turning  the  corner  of  the  house,  was  at  once  followed,  as  had  been 
anticipated,  by  the  two  bandits  from  the  garden.  Scarcely,  how- 
ever, had  she  proceeded  a  dozen  yards  across  the  common,  when  she 
found  herself  running  into  the  very  arms  of  a  third  pursuer,  who 
was  proceeding  to  meet  her,  and  whom  her  bhnding  veil  had 
prevented  her  from  discovering  at  a  distance.  There  was  no 
evading  the  contact,  and  the  negress,  raising  her  bronzed  and 
mallet-like  fist,  fairly  knocked  her  expecting  captor  to  the  ground, 
and  again  darted  ofl:'  in  a  lateral  direction.  A  shout  of  derision 
arose  from  the  other  conspirators  at  the  discomfiture  of  their 
colleague,  and,  with  a  single  exception,  they  all  joined  in  the  pur- 
suit. Bluff,  the  leader  of  the  band,  was  a  huge  fierce  man,  who, 
foreseeing  as  he  thought  the  inevitable  capture  of  the  fugitive,  and 
remembering  that  there  was  a  slave  in  the  house,  who  was  also  to 
be  secured,  hastened  to  execute  this  part  of  his  fiendish  errand. 

Blanche,  in  the  meantime,  had  attempted  to  escape,  but  her 
extreme  terror,  her  awkward  dress,  and  especially  her  heavy,  loose 
shoes,  had  been  so  many  impediments  to  rapid  flight.  She  reached 
the  rear  of  the  garden,  but  lost  some  seconds,  which  seemed  like 
hours,  in  finding  the  gate  that  opened  into  the  lane  ;  and  when  it 
was  found,  the  simple  latch  became  intricate  to  her  confused  facul- 
ties, and  she  again  lost  time  in  finding  her  way  out,  which  she  had 
only  succeeded  in  doing,  when  a  ferocious  shout  firom  the  house  told 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  73 

Iier  that  she  was  perceived  and  pursued.  The  sound  fell  like  a 
thunder  peal  upon  her  excited  ner\es :  for  a  moment  she  moved 
slowly,  and  seemed,  like  the  victim  of  a  nightmare,  to  struggle 
against  invisible  fetters,  but  at  the  next,  she  darted  forward,  not 
towards  the  thoroughfere,  as  she  had  intended,  but,  unconscious  of 
her  course,  in  an  opposite  direction. 

The  lane  extended  northward  to  a  field,  in  which,  at  a  consider- 
able distance  west,  a  farm-house  was  visible,  and  towards  this  refuge 
Blanche  now  directed  her  steps.  Despair  gave  her  energy,  and 
when  once  fairly  in  progress,  she  fled  almost  with  the  fleetness  of  the 
deer ;  but  Bluff  had  reached  the  lane  at  a  few  bounds,  and  she 
heard  his  clattering  feet  behind  her,  and  the  hoarse  imprecations 
and  threats  with  which  he  called  upon  her  to  stop,  seemed  uttered 
almost  in  her  ear.  Every  instant  she  expected  to  feel  his  grasp 
upon  her  shoulder,  yet  still  her  fate  was  suspended.  The  farm- 
house was  no  longer  distant,  but  she  felt  her  strength  departing,  and 
her  senses  failing ;  fences  and  trees  were  flying  indistinctly  past  her, 
the  sky  grcAv  dark,  the  earth  was  in  motion  on  every  side,  and  now 
it  rose  up  before  her  like  a  wall,  and  smote  her  hot  forehead,  and 
she  lay  stretched  at  length  upon  its  surface,  with  mingled  voices 
ringing  in  her  ear.  How  long  she  thus  lay  she  could  not  tell ;  she 
had  not  fainted,  but  was  in  that  half  swooning  state  in  which  the 
senses  receive  but  imperfect  impressions  from  the  outer  world,  and 
give  to  realities  all  the  wildness  of  a  dream.  She  did  not  forget 
her  pecuhar  peril,  but  still  expected  momentarily  to  feel  the  clutch- 
ing hand  of  her  pursuer  upon  her  person,  and  to  be  dragged 
forcibly  away. 

But  a  better  fate  was  in  reserve.  The  house  towards  which  she 
had  thus  inadvertently  fled,  proved  to  be  the  dwelling  of  Jacobus 
Waldron.  Huntington,  from  the  window  of  his  study,  had  per- 
ceived the  chase,  and  suspecting  something  wrong,  had  snatched  his 
gun,  and  hastened  out  to  meet  the  fugitive.  A  glance  at  the  fore- 
most figure  told  him  it  was  Jule,  the  slave  of  liis  neighbor  Sniffj  and 

4 


74  THE      KING      OF     THE      HUROKS. 

another  view  informed  liim  that  the  pursuer  was  none  other  than 
the  rude  sailor  whom  he  bad  encountered  in  the  forest.  The 
recognition  was  mutual ;  and  the  pirate,  uttering  a  triple  volley  of 
oaths,  abandoned  the  chase,  and  proceeded  to  retrace  his  steps. 
Though  baffled,  he  thought,  in  obtaining  the  negress,  the  main 
object  of  his  expedition  was  secured  ;  aud  although  Grover  would  be 
sorely  disappointed  at  a  mischance  which  might  reveal  his  outrage 
to  the  public,  the  slave  could  not  be  a  witness  against  him  in  any 
criminal  prosecution,  nor  did  she  personally  know  anythiiig  that 
connected  him  with  the  transaction.  Thus  consoling  himself  for  his 
defeat,  he  hastened  to  rejoin  his  companions. 

Huntington  liad  seen  Mrs.  SnitF  and  Emily  driving  out  of  town  a 
few  hours  before  in  company  with  Shiel,  and  had  not  doubted  that 
Blanche  was  also  with  them  ;  liis  first  decided  impression,  therefore, 
was  that  some  piratical  fellow  had  seized  so  favorable  an  opportunity 
to  kidnap  the  slave  for  the  purpose  of  traui^porting  her  on  his  next 
cruise,  to  some  neighboring  market.  Such  an  event  would  not  be 
without  precedent  in  those  early  days  of  the  commonwealth  when 
crime  stalked  abroad  in  every  shape,  and  by  reason  of  its  frequency 
and  familiarity  to  the  view  seemed  shorn  of  half  its  liideous 
proportions.  Anxious,  however,  to  solve  the  mystery,  although 
unalarmed  about  Blanche,  Henrich  turned  quickly  to  the  prostrate 
figure  before  him,  and  touching  it  not  lightly  with  his  gun,  bade  the 
slave  arise  and  tell  him  what  had  happened. 

"  Get  up,  Jule,  get  up  ! "  he  said,  "  you  are  safe  enough  now ; 
stand  up  quickly,  and  tell  me  what  is  the  matter ;  the  poor  thing  ! " 
he  continued,  stooping  and  shaking  her  roughly  by  the  arm,  "  thinks 
she  is  half  way  to  Virginia  by  this ;  staiid  up,  I  say,  you  simpleton, 
I  don't  think  your  delicate  nerves  are  quite  shattered  yet — stand  up  ! " 

Blanche  still  bewildered,  rose  with  difficulty,  half  conscious  that 
she  Avas  saved,  yet  ignorant  of  her  preserver,  and  vainly  trying  to 
comprehend  the  singular  language  in  which  she  was  addressed. 


THE      KIN  a      OF     THE      HURONS.  YS 

"Tliere,  don't  show  off  any  more  airs  now — you  are  more 
frightened  than  hurt,  I  assure  you,"  said  Henrich,  somewhat 
harshly. 

"  Why  do  you  speak  to  me  thus  ? "  exclaimed  Blanche  imploringly 
and  with  tears — at  the  same  time  throwing  back  her  hood :  "  do 
you  not  see  that  I  am  in  distress  ? " 

It  was  an  exceedingly  fortunate  thing  for  Henrich  that  he  was 
not  standing  at  that  moment  upon  some  precipice,  or  beside  some 
terrestrial  chasm,  into  which  he  could  have  leaped  and  buried  the 
burning  shame  and  grief  which  overwhelmed  him,  as  he  saw  to 
whom  his  coarse  reproachful  language  had  been  directed. 

"  Is  it  indeed  you.  Miss  Roselle  ? "  he  said  at  length,  speaking 
with  difficulty ;  "  how, — why  do  I  find  you  in  this  disguise  ?  You 
cannot  believe  I  would  have  spoken  thus  to  you  ;  tell  me  what  has 
happened,  and  let  me  first  secure  you  a  refuge,  and  then  avenge 
your  wrongs." 

Blanche,  now  fully  restored  to  memory,  glanced  at  her  servile 
dress,  and  smiled  faintly  as  she  rej^lied :  "  I  understand  it  all  now ; 
but  poor  Jule  is  in  danger ;  she  has  risked  her  life  for  me,  and  is 
doubtless  at  this  moment  in  the  hands  of  the  pirates  ;  you  look 
surprised,  but  I  cannot  explain  now  ;  Heaven  has  preserved  my  life 
by  her  means — and  yours ;  and  something  must  be  done  to  save 
her." 

Huntington  promised  to  make  every  effort  to  accomplish  this 
object,  and  hastened  to  conduct  Blanche  to  his  own  home  for 
safety,  while  he  should  proceed  to  alarm  the  authorities,  little  hoping, 
however,  that  so  slight  an  offence  as  steahng  a  slave  would  arouse 
them  to  any  very  vigorous  action. 

"  Do  not  think  me  ungrateful  to  you,"  Blanche  continued,  as  they 
walked  hastily  along ;  "  my  thoughts  are  still  in  a  tumult  of  excite- 
ment, and  if  you  knew  from  what  a  fate  the  poor  African  has  saved 
me,  you  would  not  wonder  that  I  am  anxious  for  her  safety." 

"  You  give  me  the  best  proof  that  you  are  incapable  of  ingratitude, 


V6  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS, 

IMiss  Roselle,"  replied  HenricL,  "when  you  manifest  so  great  an 
interest  in  an  humble  slave  ;  but  do  not  be  alarmed  for  the  girl — 
they  can  scarcely  meditate  any  harm  against  her,  and  I  hope  it  will 
be  an  easy  matter  to  procure  her  release." 

Blanche  was  soon  under  the  steep  roof  of  old  Jacobus,  and  in  the 
especial  charge  of  that  worthy,  who  welcomed  her  very  heartily,  and 
made  some  violent  efforts  to  comprehend  the  affair,  but  without  any 
corresponding  success.  That  the  stranger  was  really  the  serving  girl 
of  his  neighbor  Sniff,  turned  white  with  excessive  fear,  was  among 
the  most  prominent  of  his  conjectures,  but  one  that  seemed  open  to 
doubt.  Henrich  departed  on  his  errand,  but  not  without  being 
reminded  by  Blanche,  with  the  slightest  perceptible  change  of  color, 
that  she  was  not  unreasonable  enough  to  expect  him  to  incur  any 
personal  peril  in  his  mission  :  indeed,  that  she  considered  it  her  duty 
to  protest  against  his  doing  so. 


THE     KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  li 


CHAPTER     X. 

"  I  saw  her  hand  :  she  has  a  leathern  hand, 
A  freestone  colored  hand." — Shakspeare.     As  you  Like  it. 

When  Jiile,  after  lier  remarkable  pugilistic  feat,  started  anew 
upon  Ler  race,  it  was,  at  first,  with  confused  and  ill-directed  elTorts. 
She  found  herself  "  headed  off,"  ^^  ^°<3  ^^  expressive  phrase,  in  every 
attempt  to  approach  any  settled  quarter  of  the  city ;  and  the  nearest 
dwelling  in  the  direction  which  she  was  compelled  to  take  was  so 
remote,  as  to  afford  but  httle  hope  that  she  could  reach  it  before 
being  overtaken.  She  resolved,  however,  to  try  ;  for  she  was  strong 
and  active,  and  notwithstanding  the  restraints  of  her  novel  dress, 
made  no  inconsiderable  progress.  Her  tight,  cramping  shoes  were 
the  principal  impediment  to  speed,  and  these  she  resolved  to  discard ; 
an  operation  which  resulted  in  a  decided  expansion  of  the  released 
members,  and  enabled  them  to  get,  what  in  the  vocabulary  of  the 
fancy  would  be  called  a  better  bite  of  the  ground.  Her  speed  now 
visibly  increased,  and  her  panting  pursuers  beheld  with  astonishment 
her  prodigious  exploits  both  of  strength  and  agihty.  Nothing 
seemed  to  impede  her  flight ;  hill  and  valley  were  alike  easily  over- 
come ;  if  a  ditch  interposed,  Jule  went  over  at  a  flying  leap,  and  the 
fences  .were  eithc  #jassed,  in  quadrupedal  mode,  through  chinks  and 
gaps,  or  else  were  surmounted  and  bestridden  in  a  manner  less  elegant 
than  energetic  ;  retaining,  withal,  many  torn  trophies  from  her  dress, 
and  holding  them  up  fluttering  to  the  wind. 

For  a  while  everything  promised  success,  and  her  chagrined  pur- 
suers, lagging  in  the  chase,  strove  by  loud  threats  to  terrify  her  into 


78  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

submission.  Little  would  Jule  have  heeded  threats,  but  her  violent 
efforts  had  caused  a  rajoid  expenditure  of  strength ;  and  while  her 
anticipated  refuge  was  yet  at  a  long  distance,  her  speed  began 
visibly  to  decrease.  She  could  not  rally  ;  the  pirates  gained  rapidly 
upon  her,  and  her  capture  became  inevitable.  With  ready  sagacity, 
therefore,  she  readjusted  her  dress  in  order  to  prolong  the  deception 
in  regard  to  her  person ;  for  she  did  not,  of  course,  know  whether 
Blanche's  safety  was  yet  secured,  or  whether  she  had  even  gained 
courage  to  leave  the  house.  She  had  barely  time  for  this  precaution 
before  she  found  herself  in  the  rude  grasp  of  her  captors,  who  vented 
many  an  oath  upon  her  stubbornness,  and  placing  her  between  two 
of  their  number,  proceeded  to  retrace  their  steps. 

Jule  did  not  struggle  or  speak  ;  all  her  thoughts  were  for  the 
safety  of  Blanche,  and  her  only  efforts  were  to  avoid  discovery.  The 
party  proceeded  rapidly  to  their  boats,  and  in  ten  minutes  were 
gliding  across  the  water  in  the  direction  of  a  ship,  which  lay  anchored 
near  the  opposite  side  of  the  river ;  in  a  still  shorter  time,  subse- 
quently, the  veiled  slave  was  sitting  alone  and  undisturbed  in  its  cabin. 

Mr.  Boatswain  Bluff,  meanwhile,  had  sought  out  Major  Grover, 
and  informed  him  of  the  flight  of  Miss  Montaigne,  of  her  capture, 
and  of  the  escape  of  the  slave ;  and  the  major,  both  mortified  and 
angry  at  Blanche's  continued  resistance  to  his  suit,  rejoiced  at  an 
extremity  which  would  no  longer  admit  of  compromise  or  retraction. 
He  at  once  accompanied  Bluff  on  board  the  vessel,  listening,  mean- 
while, with  much  astonishment  to  the  narrative  of  Blanche's 
wonderfid  exploits,  both  in  pugilism  and  locomotion. 

"  She's  a  Tartar,  sir,  she  is,"  said  Bluff,  "  begging  your  honor's 
pardon ;  Bill  Sweeps'  eye,  sir,  is  as  good  as  out,  and  he  nmt  any 
baby  to  handle  either ;  your  honor  would  do  well  to  be  careful  how 
you  speak  her." 

"  The  most  timid  of  animals  will  show  courage  and  strength  when 
driven  to  extremities,"  replied  Grover ;  "  and  yet  it  seems  wonderful 
that  even  desperation  could  give  power  to  one  so  very  delicate." 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S.  *I9 

*'  I^ut  SO  dc4icate,  your  honor,"  returned  Bluff,  bending  to  liis  oars 
— "  she's  got  a  fist,  sir •"" 

«  A/5^,  Bkiffr 

"  Like  a  sledge-hammer  !"  said  the  boatswam. 

"  You  are  a  fool,"  replied  Grover,  "  her  hand  is  like  a  child's,  small, 
white,  and  dimpled — it  could  not  stagger  a  kitten — Bill  Sweeps  must 
liave  fallen  from  mere  fright." 

"  Well,  sir,  it  aint  for  me  to  dispute  your  honor,  but  seein'  is 
believin',  and  mayhap  your  honor  'U  see  and  believe  by  and  by — but 
/  say  she  has  a  fist — and  feet  too,  that  aint  no  trifles !" 

"  Her  feet  are  like  a  doll's — like  a  fairy's,  like  a  Chinese  princess's, 
small,  and  of  the  most  exquisite  symmetry,  and  her  ancles  are  hke 
—like—" 

"  Like  a  cricket-club,  I  swear,"  said  Bluff,  laughing,  "  and  she  made 
a  very  liberal  display  of  them,  too,  in  scampering  across  fields,  jump- 
ing ditches,  and  tumbling  over  fences." 

Grover,  now  thoroughly  incensed,  was  about  to  reply  angrily, 
but  remembering  the  importance  of  keeping  on  good  terms  with  the 
outlaw,  he  suppressed  his  wrath  as  he  best  could.  Since  he  had 
stooped  to  converse  familiarly  \\ith  his  companion,  he  could  scarcely 
complain  that  the  latter  took  some  license,  and  even  perpetrated  a 
few  jokes  at  his  expense.  The  sailor's  propensity  for  fun,  together 
with  a  desire  to  magnify  the  difficulties  of  a  very  simple  achievement, 
was,  he  was  convinced,  at  the  bottom  of  ail  his  marvellous  stories. 

"  Well,  well,"  he  said,  "  a  joke's  a  joke,  and  you  are  welcome  to 
yours ;  I  only  wish,  since  you  had  your  eyes  so  wide  open,  that  you 
had  managed  to  capture  the  wench — it  don't  speak  very  well 
for  five  strong  men  that  one  woman  has  bafl3ed  them  altogether, 
and  another  almost." 

"  Fact,  sir,  fact,"  replied  the  boatswain,  "  that's  a  disgrace  to  our 
flag,  that  is ;  Joe  Bluff  feels  it  to  his  fingers'  ends,  he  does,  and  if 
your  honor  wants  a  wench  to  wait  on  the  lady,  I'll  go  and  pick  one 
up  yet,  somewhere." 


80  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

Grover,  of  course,  declined  this  offer,  and  as  they  had  now  reached 
the  vessel,  their  colloquy  came  to  a  close.  Everything  was  ready 
for  instantaneous  departure,  the  wind  was  fair,  and  the  major  was 
not  disposed  to  create  any  delay.  He  conversed  for  a  few  moments 
with  the  captain,  and  while  the  ship  was  brought  around,  he 
descended  into  the  cabin,  and  found  himself  alone  with  the  prisoner. 
Jule  had  seen  his  approach  to  the  ship,  she  felt  assured  of  ^liss 
Montaigne's  safety,  and  there  was  no  longer  any  necessity  for  con- 
tinuing her  deception,  yet  she  trembled  for  the  result  of  a  disclosure, 
and  uncertain  how  best  to  accomplish  it,  sat  hesitating,  and  nearly 
stupefied  with  terror,  when  Grover  made  his  appearance.  Her  hands, 
from  which,  for  convenience,  she  had  removed  the  gloves,  were  con- 
cealed beneath  her  veil,  which  was  of  ample  dimensions,  and  of  a 
favoring  hue,  and  although  there  was  everything  in  the  outline  of 
her  figure,  and  in  its  general  air,  to  confirm  suspicion,  when  once 
fairly  aroused,  there  was  nothing  of  itself  sufficient  to  unsettle  an 
existing  prepossession.  Fatigue,  flight,  and  distress,  accounted  for 
everything  unusual  or  awkward,  and  the  well-known  curls,  fluttering 
like  asjDcn  leaves,  with  the  emotion  that  shook  every  part  of  the  poor 
girl's  frame,  seemed  a  proof  of  identity,  equal  to  a  notary's  certifi- 
cate, sealed  and  stamped. 

Grover  hastened  to  address  her  in  a  tone  of  apology  and  condol- 
ence. Her  own  rash  action,  he  said,  had  precipitated  an  event  which 
really  need  not  have  occurred,  and  M'hich  he  had  not  anticipated  ; 
he  was  most  sorry  for  any  alarm  or  trouble  which  it  had  occasioned 
her,  and  hoped  everything  would  be  imputed  only  to  the  excess  of 
his  passion. 

"  And  now,"  he  said,  "  dear  Blanche,  let  this  farce  come  to  an 
end  ;  only  pledge  me  solemnly  your  faith,  and  we  will  return  at 
once  to  land,  and  our  wedding  shall  be  celebrated  with  princely 
magnificence ;  I  need  not  urge  that  you  are  in  my  power  ;  that 
you  have  no  possible  escape ;  that  we  are  bound  on  a  three  weeks' 
cruise,  and  that  when  we  return,  you  will  no  longer  have  the  power 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  81 

of  choice — see,  we  are  even  now  dropping  down  the  stream  1"  A 
sob,  and  the  sound  of  hurried  respiration,  were  the  only  reply : 
an  increased  tremor  shook  the  frame  of  the  captive,  and  the  little 
glossy  ringlets  danced  like  electrified  feathers. 

"  You  do  not  speak  harshly  to  me,"  continued  Grover — "  you  will 
relent — you  will  not  withstand  the  ardor  of  a  devotion,  which  has  so 
nearly  driven  me  to  madness." 

The  chattering  of  teeth  beneath  the  veil,  and  a  choked  and  indis- 
tinct articulation  at  length  manifested  an  attempt  to  reply. 

"  Speak  but  one  word  of  encouragement  !"  exclaimed  Grover,  in 
an  excitement  of  suspense. 

"  Boo-ooh-ooh !"  exclaimed  Jule,  crying  hysterically,  like  a  child, 
and  with  no  musical  intonation. 

"  Rage  has  no  tears,"  said  Grover,  "  and  these  are  auspicious 
signs — calm  yourself,  dear  Blanche  1"  Thus  saying,  he  touched  with 
gentlest  motion  the .  lace-encircled  wrist  which  lay  nearest  to  him, 
and  sought  to  draw  the  appendant  hand  from  beneath  the  veil. 

It  came  !  Was  it  a  serpent  with  protruded  fangs  ?  Was  it  a 
Leyden  battery,  triply  charged  ?  or  why  has  the  suitor  sprung  back- 
Avard  from  the  contact,  with  a  face  in  which  every  lineament  is 
wrought  to  madness, — with  ashen  lips,  that  quiver  but  do  not  speak, 
with  eyes  riveted,  as  by  some  horrid  fascination,  upon  the  object 
which  he  has  revealed  ?  Ungloved,  the  broad,  black,  bony  member 
lay  before  him,  with  its  huge  knuckles,  and  the  club-like  termini  of 
its  fingers,  proclaiming  the  whole  story  of  his  discomfiture  and  dis- 
grace. It  was  no  dream,  no  diablerie^  no  freak  of  a  frightened 
imagination, — but  an  awful,  evident,  insurmountable  reality,  destined 
to  whelm  him  with  ridicule  unprecedented  and  unending.  Breath, 
speech,  and  the  power  of  motion  returned  at  length,  and  the  roar  of 
an  unbridled  rage  ascending  to  the  deck,  drew  the  leading  ruffians 
wondering  to  the  cabin  door ;  the  discovery  flew  from  mouth  to 
mouth,  until  the  boisterous  merriment  of  the  crew  outsounded  the 
tumult  below,  and  for  a  while  defied  every  attempt  at  control.     The 

4* 


82  THE     KING      OF     THE     HURONS. 

cabin  was  at  once  filled  with  wide-grinning  faces,  and  tlie  slave, 
expecting  death,  yet  plucking  up  spirit,  had  retreated  to  the  wall, 
and  assumed  an  attitude  of  defiance,  aa  with  glaring  eyes  she 
watched  the  movements  of  her  captors.  Grover,  with  clenched  fists, 
stood  at  her  side,  trampling  unconsciously  upon  his  tasselled  cap, 
and  incoherently  questioning  both  the  prisoner  and  the  crest-fallen 
Bluff,  who,  as  the  leader  of  the  kidnapping  expedition,  was  chiefly 
chargeable  with  its  failure. 

"  What  de\dl  prompted  you  to  this  deceit  ?"  he  said  fiercely  to 
the  former. 

"  I  did  it  my^e/,"  said  Jule,  boldly,  "  if  you  kill  me  for  it ;  Missa 
Blanche  was  good  to  Jule — nobody  was  ever  good  to  Jule  before — 
and  now — and  now,  I  have  saved  her  life,  and  I'm  glad  of  it." 

"  You're  an  idiot!"  retorted  Grover,  stamping  with  passion,  "  and 
you  shall  be  drowned  hke  a  rat  for  your  pains — overboard  with  the 
chattering  baboon  !"  he  continued,  turning  to  the  men. 

The  pirates  looked  at  each  other,  at  Bluff,  and  at  their  captain, 
who,  smiling  under  a  hideous  mustache,  had  been,  from  the  back- 
ground, a  silent  observer  of  events.  The  boatswain,  willing  to  do 
something  towards  wiping  out  his  own  disgrace,  but  unused  to 
receiving  orders  excepting  from  his  leader,  stepped  forward,  and 
looked  to  the  latter  for  approval. 

"  Come,  dispatch  1"  shouted  Grover ;  "  we'll  show  her  how  to 
walk  a  plank  with  a  spring  to  it — drag  her  along  1" 

No  one  stirred  ;  and  Grover,  glancing  fiercely  around  the  room, 
caught  the  eye  of  the  captain,  who,  coming  forward  at  the  same 
moment,  said : 

"  Major  Grover,  this  ere  job  wasn't  in  the  agreement  at  all ;  and 
though  I  aint  very  squeamish  about  sich  matters,  yet  it's  rather 
dangerous  here  in  port,  and  my  boys  shan't  have  nothing  to  do  with 
it — howsomever,  major,  ef  you  want  to  drownd  the  wench — why 
there  she  is,  and  there's  the  water — nobody  shan't  interfere  !" 

"  Let  him  try  it !"  said  Jule,  with  defiance. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HUR0N3.  83 

Grover  foamed  with  rage :  "  Give  me  a  pistol,  then !"  he 
exclaimed,  turning  to  Bluff,  who  handed  him  one  of  a  pair,  which 
was  stuck  in  his  belt ;  "  Stand  back  there,  boys, ;  we'll  try  the 
toughness  of  her  hide — stand  back  !" 

But  at  this  moment  a  shout  of  "  fair  play  !"  rang  from  one  side  of 
the  cabin,  and  a  large  negro,  one  of  the  crew,  crowding  himself 
forward,  rushed  up  to  Jule,  and  placed  one  of  his  own  pistols  in|her 
hand  ;— "  Mr  play  !"  he  said, — "  don't  shoot  the  child  down  like  a 
wolf— if  pistols  is  the  word,  let  'em  both  have  'em  !" 

The  movement  appealed  strongly  to  the  sympathies  of  the 
pirates,  as  well  as  to  their  rude  sense  of  justice,  and  the  novelty  of 
the  idea  was  irresistibly  attractive.  The  captain,  solicitous  for  Gro- 
ver's  safety,  attempted  to  interfere,  and  ordered  the  slave  to  be 
disarmed;  but  the  clamor  outsounded  his  authority,  and  no  one 
offered  to  obey,  which  might  indeed  have  proved  a  dangerous 
undertaking.  The  men  fell  back  to  clear  a  space  for  the  combat, 
but  Grover,  declining  so  extraordinary  a  duel,  had  mingled  with  the 
retreating  phalanx,  and  quite  disappeared  from  the  view  of  his 
antagonist. 

Still  frantic  with  wrath,  he  yet  had  sense  to  perceive  his  ludicrous 
position,  and  would  have  needed  but  little  additional  goading  to 
cause  him  to  turn  his  weapon  upon  himself.  He  went  upon  deck, 
and  sought  the  fresh  air,  postponing  for  a  few  minutes  his  still 
determined  revenge  ;  but  delay  brought  reflection,  and  a  change 
of  views.  He  was  a  bad  man,  but  not  bad  enough,  excepting  in 
the  very  boiling  of  passion,  to  murder  one  whose  only  fault  had 
been  fidelity  to  a  friend.  Perhaps  he  might  still  have  accomplished 
such  an  object  if  he  had  persisted  in  it ;  but  he  was  heartily  sick- 
ened of  the  whole  transaction,  and  asked  for  nothing  but  to  be 
quietly  put  on  shore.  He  made  no  terms  about  the  negress,  never 
doubting  that  she  would  be  carried  away  and  sold, .inasmuch  as  the 
business  of  slave-snatching  was  quite  profitable,  and  frequently 
formed  an  interlude  to  the  more  legitimate  pursuits  of  the  pirates. 


84  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

Captain  Snell  did  not  dare,  after  so  bungling  a  piece  of  business,  as 
lie  called  it,  to  return  to  port,  and  was  compelled  to  seek  some 
other  market  for  his  cargo ;  he  parted  with  his  guest  with  many- 
apologies,  and,  mindful  that  he  might  yet  find  the  services  of  the 
major  highly  valuable  in  so  growing  an  emporium  as  New  York, 
made  him  heartily  welcome  to  the  specimens  of  silks,  laces,  etc., 
which  the  latter  had  received,  and  which,  having  been  left  on  the 
premises  of  Mrs.  Sniff,  became  a  windfall  of  the  first  magnitude  to 
that  lady. 

But  the  worst  of  men  have  some  human  sympathies  unseared. 
The  ruffians  had  been  struck  with  admiration  at  Jule's  whole  con- 
duct ;  her  craft  and  courage  especially  eliciting  their  praise.  Her 
fellow  African  interceded  earnestly  for  her  release,  and  the  popular 
voice  deciding  it,  she  was  set  ashore  the  same  afternoon  on  the 
Long  Island  side  of  the  bay,  a  few  miles  south  of  the  citv. 


THE      KING      OV     THE      HURONS, 


CHAPTER     XI. 


He  who  stems  a  stream  with  sand, 

And  fetters  flame  with  flaxen  band, 
Has  yet  a  harder  task  to  prove- 
By  firm  resolve  to  conqiier  love. ^'— Scott. 


When  Henrich  returned  from  Lis  fruitless  quest  after  the  slave, 
he  found  Miss  Montaigne  still  trembling  with  unsubdued  excitement, 
and  fearful  that  even  her  present  refuge  might  afford  no  sufficient 
protection  against  her  lawless  persecutor.  She  had  started  at  eveiy 
sound  during  his  absence,  and  felt  as  if  she  were  again  exposed  to 
all  the  perils  which  had  so  recently  impended  over  her ;  her  fears 
had  been  augmented,  too,  by  the  remembrance  of  Henri ch's  instinc- 
tive offer  to  avenge  her  wrongs,  and  she  did  not  hesitate,  on  his 
return,  to  exact  from  him  a  promise  that  he  would  not  seek  pereon- 
ally  to  visit  retribution  upon  the  offender :  "  I  have,  indeed,  a  right," 
she  said,  "  to  require  this  at  your  hands  ;  for  if  gratitude  did  not 
prompt  a  regard  for  your  interest,  I  cannot  but  remember  that  my 
own  security  may  continue  to  depend  upon  yours." 

Huntington  replied  with  suppressed  emotion :  he  was  too  happy 
to  have  been  her  preserver ;  her  lightest  word  should  be  to  him  a 
law,  and  he  would  leave  no  vigilance  unexercised  to  secure  her 
continued  safety.  Such  were  his  words ;  yet,  fearful  of  seeming  to 
presume  on  the  benefits  he  had  conferred,  they  were  delivered 
rather  with  an  air  of  distant  respect,  than  of  cordial  regard. 

Tlie  fate  of  Jule  .continued  to  excite  commiseration,  and  Blanche 
was  already  engaged  in  planning  schemes  to  discover  her  future 


86  THEKING      OF     THE      HURON  8. 

place  of  bondage,  and  to  procure  her  freedom,  when  the  delighted 
slave  entered  the  house,  bringing  the  first  intelligence  of  her  escape. 
Emily  and  Mrs.  Sniff  were  also  soon  added  to  the  company,  panic- 
stricken  by  the  tidings  of  the  recent  atrocity,  to  which  they  had  so 
unwittingly  been  rendered  accessaries.  Jule,  of  course,  became  the 
lion  of  the  hour,  and  related  her  adventures  with  much  minuteness, 
awakening  the  deepest  interest,  and  not  a  little  merriment  beside ; 
yet  poor  Blanche,  to  whom  the  recital  only  imparted  a  more  vivid 
sense  of  the  danger  she  had  escaped,  was  in  no  mood  for  laughter. 
Indignation  succeeded  alarm  in  her  breast ;  and  she  felt  her  wrongs 
the  more  keenly,  when  she  reflected  with  what  impunity  they  had 
been  committed.  To  seek  legal  redress  would  be  utterly  futile  :  the 
slave  being  inadmissible  as  a  witness,  there  was  no  evidence  to  con- 
nect Grover  personally  with  the  transaction ;  and  even  had  proof 
been  attainable  to  set  in  operation  the  unwieldy  machinery  of  the 
law,  the  offender's  rank  would  shield  him  from  any  adequate  punish- 
ment. Miss  Roselle  declared  she  would  never  again  set  foot  in  the 
dove-cot,  and  freely  accepted,  in  behalf  of  herself  and  Blanche,  the 
tender  of  a  refuge  in  Mynheer  Waldron's  hospitable  house  until  a 
new  home  could  be  found.  The  engrossing  subject  was  discussed 
until  a  late  hour  of  the  night ;  and  Blanche  again  and  again  reite- 
rated her  thanks  to  the  gratified  slave,  and  exacted  from  her  a 
promise  to  call  on  the  ensuing  day  for  some  more  substantial  token 
of  her  regard. 

"  Sumfin  to  remember  you  by,  Missa  Blanche ; — netting  else," 
said  Jule,  who  was  unwilling  to  be  thought  mercenary. 

"  It  shall,  indeed,  be  something  to  remember  me  by,  poor  child !" 
replied  Miss  Montaigne, — "  if  the  priceless  boon  of  freedom  is 
worthy  of  remembrance." 

"  Freedom,  ^lissa  Blanche  !"  exclaimed  Jule,  with  starting  tears — 
*'  Oh  no — dat  cannot  be ;  Harry  Bolt  loves  Jule — would  marry 
Jule,  if  she  free  ;  but  dat  can't  be — dat  cost  two  hundred  dollars  !" 

The  ncgress  emphasised  the  last  words  in  a  manner  that  implied 


THE     KING     OF     THE     HURONS.  87 

an  overpowering  sense  of  the  magnitude  of  the  sum  named,  and  a 
conviction  that  she  had  quite  put  at  rest  Miss  Montaigne's  benevo- 
lent intentions  in  her  behalf. 

"  Well,  well,"  replied  Blanche,  scarcely  refraining  from  teai-s, — 
"  come  and  see  me,  Jule,  and  bring  Harry  Bolt  along  with  you." 

To  this  invitation  the  negress,  after  consulting  her  mistress's  eye, 
and  seeing  no  indications  of  disapproval,  promised  compliance.  The 
widow  was  mortified  and  vexed  by  the  conduct  of  her  distinguished 
friends,  almost  into  a  state  of  speechlessness,  which,  in  her  case, 
might  be  considered  the  very  collapse  of  grief.  She  was,  however, 
but  httle  alarmed  for  her  own  safety ;  and  being  mindful  of  certain 
valuables  which  would  be  exposed  by  her  absence,  she  returned  to 
her  house,  taking  wdth  her  the  reluctant  negress  and  a  borrowed 
farm-dog  for  her  protection. 

AVhen  Henrich  Huntington  arose  on  the  ensuing  morning  he  was 
quite  unable'"  to  discover  his  grandfather's  old-fashioned  rickety 
house,  with  its  high,  precipitous  roof,  its  clumsy  chimneys,  its  loose 
clanging  window-blinds,  and  its  scarecrow  weathercocks,  which  he 
had  long  been  accustomed  to  laugh  at  and  ridicule.  In  its  place  he 
saw  a  venerable  edifice,  time-stained  it  is  true,  but  also  time-honored, 
possessing  in  all  its  parts  an  air  of  the  utmost  cheerfulness,  and 
challenging  his  profoundest  respect.  The  declivity  of  the  rafters 
exactly  suited  his  taste ;  the  chimneys  had  gro^vn  into  favor ;  the 
iron  roosters,  if  a  httle  scrawny,  were  still  graceful  and  life-like  ;  and, 
if  here  and  there  a  shutter,  deprived  of  a  hinge,  hung  obliquely  at 
its  post,  he  was  not  sure  that  it  did  not  improve  the  general  air  of 
the  building.  The  very  garden,  large  and  shapeless,  had  a  new, 
fresh,  pleasing  aspect ;  and  if  its  only  flowers  were  the  coarse,  gaudy 
hollyhock  and  the  unfragrant  poppy,  both  had  a  certain  peculiar 
beauty,  and  the  odor  of  the  latter  could  hardly  be  called  disa- 
greeable. 

Whether  the  presence  of  Miss  Montaigne  had  anything  to  do  with 
this  transformation,  can  of  course  be  only  a  matter  of  conjecture 


88  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

Certain  it  was  that  she  continued  to  engross  a  large  share  of  Hen- 
rich's  thoughts  ;  and  if,  with  an  effort,  he  banished  the  beautiful 
vision  as  something  dangerous  to  dwell  upon,  it  still  recurred  in 
each  unguarded  moment,  to  his  mind.  So  the  calm  lake,  broken 
by  some  disturbing  pebble,  loses  for  a  while  its  image  of  the  sky, 
but  still  resumes  the  picture,  with  its  ow^n  returning  placidity. 

But  let  him  not  be  blamed,  if  at  times  he  yielded  to  this  pleasing 
thraldom,  for  the  charms  of  Miss  Montaigne  were  calculated  to 
fascinate  even  a  less  susceptible  'mind  than  that  of  llenrich. 
There  are  no  words  to  paint  the  singular  sweetness  of  her  smile, 
which  seemed  hke  a  gleam  of  sunlight  from  some  inner  world  of 
purity  and  love.  Rich  in  its  golden  treasures  of  thought  and  feel- 
ing must  have  been  the  heart  which  emitted  rays  like  these ;  and 
Henrich  was  but  too  happy  to  catch  their  casual  radiance,  to  treasure 
them  in  his  memory,  to  recall  them  in  dreams,  and  to  wonder  what 
there  was  of  human  suffering  or  achievement  that  could  win  from 
relenting  Heaven  a  treasure  so  transcendent.  Never  before  had  his 
own  poverty  or  obscurity  been  to  him  a  source  of  serious  regret ; 
but  now  he  felt  that  he  could  make  any  effort  to  ojien  the  gates  of 
wealth  or  scale  the  cliffs  of  Fame. 

Willing  to  diminish  the  distance  between  them,  he  had  tried  to 
discredit  the  rumor  of  her  rank  and  wealth,  as  one  which  might 
well  have  originated  in  Mrs.  Sniff's  desire  to  create  a  temporary 
^clat  for  herself;  but  there  was  something  in  the  deportment  of 
Blanche  which  gave  confirmation  to  the  story.  An  air  of  unstudied 
gentility  pervaded  her  movements,  with  a  tasteful  avoidance  of  show 
and  affectation,  and  an  entire  freedom  from  that  obtrusive  dignity 
which,  ever  guarded  against  aggression,  betrays  its  uncertain  foot- 
ing by  its  very  efforts  to  stand.  The  mystery  that  enveloped  her, 
the  singular  mode  of  her  arrival,  the  uncertain  duration  of  her  stay, 
and  her  voluntary  seclusion  from  society,  all  added  to  the  interest 
which  she  excited  in  the  mind  of  Henrich  ;  nor  had  he  failed  to 
observe,  in  estimating  her  position,  that  independent  action,  even  in 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HUR0N8.  89 

matters  of  moment,  ■wliicli  almost  precluded  the  idea  of  lier  elder 
companion  being  in  reality  her  sister.  Her  offer  to  enfranchise  the 
slave  was  made  without  consultation  with  Emily,  nor  did  it  seem  to 
excite  any  surprise  in  the  latter.  Henrich  did  not,  indeed,  yield  a 
moment's  credence  to  the  exaggerated  views  of  his  voluble  neighbor, 
yet  he  was  compelled  to  believe  it  probable  that  Blanche  belonged 
to  that  aristocratic  division  of  English  society,  between  which,  and 
everything  below  it,  so  strong  a  line  of  demarcation  exists. 

The  accident  which  had  made  him  her  benefactor,  while  it  tended 
to  augment  his  growing  attachment,  and  to  impart  an  air  of  romance 
to  its  character,  seemed,  in  reality,  rather  to  widen  than  diminish 
the  distance  between  them.  A  chivalric  sense  of  honor  forbade  the 
exhibition  of  a  sentiment  which  might  seem  to  found  its  claims  for 
reciprocity  upon  such  an  obligation,  or  which  might  impose  any 
restraint  upon  Blanche  in  seeking,  in  her  still  dependent  state, 
his  fullest  assistance  and  counsel.  The  proud  consciousness  that 
she  looked  to  him  for  protection  Avas  itself  a  pleasure  which  he 
would  not  lightly  jeopard  ;  and  he  resolved,  while  sedulously  watch- 
ing her  interests,  to  guard  with  equal  assiduity  his  own  demeanor. 

The  negress,  Jule,  did  not  forget  her  appointment  with  Miss 
Montaigne;  and  while  the  latter  was  discussing  with  Henrich  a 
subject  connected  with  her  welfare,  made  her  appearance,  accompa- 
nied, according  to  promise,  by  her  beau.  Hany  Bolt  was  a  rare 
specimen  of  colored  humanity.  His  skin  was  of  that  exceeding 
blackness  aud  coarseness  of  texture,  which,  to  use  a  horticultural 
simile,  may  be  compared  to  a  black  turnip ;  and  his  coarse  woolly 
hair,  from  some  unknown  cause,  perhaps  by  reason  of  a  monopoly 
of  the  coloring  matter  by  other  parts  of  the  system,  had  turned 
white  at  an  unusually  early  age,  and  had  given  him  an  appearance 
not  very  common  even  among  the  oldest  negroes,  and  exceedingly 
rare  at  the  age  of  twenty-four.  He  was  also  very  tall  and  awkward, 
yet,  despite  so  many  disadvantages,  could  not  be  called  ill-looking, 
for  he  had  a  pleasing  countenance,  with  fine  eyes,  and  a  perfect 


90  THE      KING      OF      THE      II U  R  O  N  S . 

treasury  of  teeth.  He  readied  the  house  in  company  with  Jule,  but 
his  courag-e  gave  out  at  the  door,  and  after  much  shuffling  and 
whispering-  on  the  outside,  his  companion  entered  alone. 

"  Harm  'fraid  to  come  in,  ^lissa  J31anche,"  she  said ;  "  he  say  he 
don't  know  how  to  act," 

"  Never  mind,  Jule,"  replied  Miss  Montaigne  :  "  tell  him  he  need 
not  act  at  all — bring  him  in," 

Harry  accordingly  shuffled  into  the  room,  looking  very  sheepish, 
and  with  his  head  hanging  dov»'n,  but  he  soon  became  composed 
enough  to  listen  to  the  questions  of  the  young  lady  ;  and  although 
lost  in  conjecture  as  to  her  dtisign,  succeeded  in  giving  very  coherent 
answers.  He  even  confessed  to  the  "soft  impeachment"  of  loving 
Jule,  without  any  change  of  color,  which,  being  rather  deeply  set, 
would  have  required  a  pretty  strong  emotion  to  disturb. 

"  'Taint  no  use,  though,"  he  said,  twirling  his  cap ;  "  'taint  no 
use,  unless  Missa  Snitf  die.  Missa  Sniti'  haint  got  any  relations,  and 
she  promise  to  give  up  JuIp.  when  she  die." 

"  That  is  liberal,  certainly,"  replied  Blanche. 

"  Yes,  dat  berry  liberal,  sartain,"  said  the  negro,  quite  gravely ; 
"  but  dat  long  time  fust — last  winter  she  berry  sick  with  fever,  and 
we  had  some  hope,  but  she  come  out  of  it,  and  now  she  better  an 
ever ;  got  strong  constooshun,  Missa  Sniff  has." 

Jule  listened  on  the  broad  grin  to  this  narrative  of  disappointed 
hope ;  but  checking  herself,  as  she  thought  of  her  perpetual  bondage, 
she  added,  sadly,  "  I  told  you  it  could  not  be,  Missa  Blanche ;  Jule 
can't  be  free." 

"  But  Harry  can  work,  lay  up  money,  and  buy  you,  Jule  ?" 

"  Yes,  Missa,  he  got  ten  dollars  laid  up  now " 

"Eleven  !"  said  Harry,  triumphantly. 

"  But  he  ony  can  save  three  dollar  a  month,  and  so  it  will 

take  six  years  amost — and  dat  long  time  to  work  for  me ;  I  tell  him 
guv  me  up,  and  get  a  free  wife  somewhere,''  said  Jule,  putting  the 
corner  of  a  check  api'on  to  her  eye  ;  "  but  he  says  he  wont " 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S.  91 

"And  so  I  wont !"  exclaimed  Hany;  "  what  for  should  I  do  such 
a  ting  as  dat ;  de  time  will  come  round  byme  by  ;  it's  ony  six  more 
Pinksters,  and  Pausses,  and  Christmasses ;  and  I  shall  be  ony  forty 
when  de  time  is  up." 

"  Forty,  Harry  ?"  said  Henrich  ;  "  why  how  old  are  you  now  ?" 

"  I'm  twenty-four,  Massa  Huntington  ;  I  speak  de  trut ;  not  a  day 
older :  I  shall  be  twenty-four  a  fortnight  ago  to-morrow." 

"  And  in  six  years  you  will  be  forty ;  will  you  ?" 

Harry  hesitated  and  looked  at  Jule,  who  seemed  also  in  some 
doubt,  and  said  she  beheved  it  was  forty  or  thirty ;  but  Massa 
Henrich  was  a  scholar  and  could  reckon  it  up  himself. 

"  But  tell  me,"  said  Blanche,  "  how  did  you  yourself  become  free, 
Harry?" 

"  I  tell  you  dat,"  answered  the  negro,  excitedly ;  "  my  Massa 
good  man,  he  belong  to  de  church — deacon  Bolt,  a  berry  good  man 
— he  own  me  and  a  plenty  more.  I  tended  dat  church,  swept  it, 
washed  it,  ring  de  bell,  and  dig  de  graves — dig  poor  Massa's  grave 
at  last,  and  when  he  die  he  guv  me  to  de  church  in  his  will — kase 
he  berry  good  man." 

"  He  was,  indeed,"  said  Blanche,  smiling ;  "  then  you  belonged  to 
the  church,  did  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  Missa  Blanche,"  said  the  negro,  grinning ;  "  dat  what  I  tell 
um — I  b'longed  to  de  church — de  best  white  man  among  'em  didn't 
b'long  to  de  church  as  much  as  I  did ;  but  de  church  folks  talked  it 
over  and  had  a  meetin'  all  about  it,  and  frighten  me  berry  much — 
I  didn't  know  what  dey  were  going  to  do  to  me  I" 

"  Well,  what  did  they  to  you,  Harry  ?" 

"  Golly  gosh  !"  said  the  negro — "  dey  said  dey  wouldn't  hab  me  ! 
— dey  turn  me  out*  o'  de  church,  and  guv  me  free  papers,  and  paid 
me  ten  dollars  a  year  for  ringing  de  bell  eber  since  I" 

It  need  hardly  be  said  that  Miss  Montaigne  was  fully  prepared 
to  carry  out  her  generous  purposes.  Although  parsimony  was  not 
among   the  faults  of  the  Baron  Montaigne,  his  daughter  would 


92  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

scarcely  liave  felt  at  liberty,  without  his  permission,  to  make  such  an 
application  of  the  funds  with  which  he  had  supplied  her ;  but  she 
had,  fortunately,  a  private  purse  equal  to  the  emergency,  which  she 
had  saved  out  of  her  allowance  for  pocket-money  during  the  last  few 
years  of  her  abode  in  England ;  and  over  this,  at  least,  her  control 
was  complete. 

Slaves  were  not  at  that  day  of  nearly  as  great  value  in  the 
province  as  they  subsequently  became  ;  and  the  price  which  Jule 
had  named  for  herself  proved  to  be  correct.  Mrs.  Sniff  had  long- 
been  desirous  to  sell  the  girl,  and  break  up  her  lonely  establishment, 
and  no  difficulty  was  encountered  in  the  arrangement,  which  had 
already  been  effected  through  the  agency  of  Henrich,  who  had, 
indeed,  but  just  returned  and  placed  the  deed  of  manumission  in  the 
hands  of  the  delighted  Blanche,  Avhen  Jule  and  Harry  arrived. 
There  was  a  little  pause  in  the  conversation,  during  which  Miss 
Montaigne  hesitated  how  to  bestow  her  boon ;  and  Jule,  glancing  at 
•Henrich,  seemed  to  suspect  that  she  and  Harry  might  be  trespassing 
by  too  long  a  stay. 

"  Shall  we  go,  now,  Missa  Blanche  ?"  she  said. 

"  Not  yet,"  replied  the  young  lady,  with  emotion,  handing,  at  the 
same  time,  the  papers  to  Henrich  ;  "please  to  explain  it  to  them,  Mr. 
Huntington,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice,  turning  away  her  face,  and 
affecting  to  look  for  something  in  her  reticule. 

"  Jule  has  told  you,  I  suppose,  Harry,"  he  said,  "  what  took  place 
yesterday,  and  how  she  saved  Miss  Roselle  from  being  carried  oft"  by 
the  pirates  ?" 

"  She  tell  a-me-all,"  said  Harry  ;  "  sma'at  gal,  Jule  is,  and  run  like 
an  ostridge." 

" Miss  Roselle  is  very  thankful  to  her — she  ivill  never  forget  the 
favor  that  Jule  has  conferred  upon  her ;  and  in  order  to  do  what  she 
can  in  return,  she  is  going  to  make  Jule  a  great  present,  and  one 
that  will  last  for  a  life-time." 

"  Golly !"  exclaimed  the  negro,  in  whose  mind,  as  in  the  slave's, 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  93 

visions  of  some  new  and  gaudy  dress  were  floating ;  "  golly  !  but  it 
must  be  made  of  good  strong  stuff,  if  it  last  so  long  as  dat !" 

"  It  is  made  of  paper  !"  replied  Henrich  ;  "  in  other  Avords,  Miss 
Roselle  has  bought  Jule,  and  made  har  free — here  is  the  deed;  take 
it,  she  is  no  longer  a  slave." 

"  Free  ? — free  ? — free,  Missa  Blanche  ?"  shouted  Jule,  flinging  up 
her  arms  as  if  she  were  throwing  ofl"  some  imaginary  shackles  ;  "  oh, 
dat  is  too  much,  too  much  I  oh  Missa  Blanche,  Jule  nebber  earn  dat 
— oh  Missa  Blanche,  Jule  will  pray  for  you,  night  and  mornin',  all 
her  life — all  her  hfe ;"  and  the  poor  girl  fairly  sobbed  with  emotion. 

Harry  manifested  no  less  delight,  but  in  a  far  different  way.  He 
did  not  trust  himself  to  speak  in  the  presence  of  Miss  Montaigne ; 
but  thrusting  the  paper  into  his  hat,  with  a  sort  of  hysterical  chuckle, 
he  rushed  from  the  house,  and  uttering  a  succession  of  shouts,  threw 
himself  upon  the  grass  in  the  lawn,  where  he  continued  to  roll  for 
many  minutes. 

"  And  am  I  really  free,  like  a  white  woman  ?"  said  Jule,  examin- 
ing her  arms  and  chest,  and  looking  up  and  down  her  figure,  as  if 
she  expected  to  see  some  physical  transformation  in  her  person ; 
"  no  more  b'long  to  Missa  Sniff",  no  more  work  for  her — wash,  iron, 
cook,  chop  wood,  make  garden,  do  ebbery  ting — no  more  scold, 
scold,  scold,  and  call  me  lazy  beast,  when  I  do  my  best — oh !  Missa 
Blanche,  it  is  too  much — too  much !" 

"  You  have  fully  deserved  your  freedom,  Jule,"  said  Miss  Mon- 
taigne, "  and  I  am  delighted  that  it  makes  you  so  happy  ;  go,  now, 
Harry  is  waiting  for  you ;  some  other  time  you  shall  thank  me,  if 
you  wish." 

Jule  accordingly  departed,  still  ejaculating  "  Oh,  Missa  Blanche  ! 
Missa  Blanche  !  it  is  too  much !  too  much  !" 


94  THE     KING      OF     THE     HURONS. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

"Justice  is  lame,  as  Well  as  blind,  amongst  us  ; 
The  laws,  corrupted  to  their  ends  that  make  them, 
Serve  but  for  instruments  of  some  new  tyranny 
That  every  day  starts  up." — Otway's  Venice  Preserved. 

For  a  few  days  succeeding  his  short  sea  voyage,  Major  Grover 
kept  quietly  within  his  own  doors,  perfectly  contented  that  he  did 
not  hear  the  outer  air  ringing  with  derisive  shouts  at  his  discom- 
fiture. He  denied  himself  to  all  visiters,  not  excepting  Shiel  and 
Midge,  until  the  persevering  calls  of  the  latter,  whose  sycophancy 
was  his  passport,  obtained  his  admission.  Grover  did  not  know 
to  what  extent  his  recent  exploit  had  become  public,  and  notwith- 
standing his  vigilant  watch  of  the  words  and  manner  of  his  visiter, 
for  the  purpose  of  gaining  some  intimation  on  the  subject,  the 
ensign  was  careful  that  he  should  not  be  enlightened  by  any  means 
of  his. 

Mr.  Midge  "  was  sorry  that  the  major  had  been  ill,  was  a  little  off 
the  hooks  himself,  hoped  it  was  nothing  serious — but  this  cursed 
climate  was  enough  to — to — " 

"  Yes,  certainly,  of  course,"  replied  Grover,  with  an  absent  look ; 
" '  tis  a  bad  climate,  particularly  for  the  gout — but  my  attack  is 
nearly  over  now — and — and — any  news  stirring.  Midge  V 

"  Not  an  item,"  replied  the  other,  zealously  ;  "  there  is  a  perfect 
stagnation  of  gossip — the  people  have  positively  nothing  at  all  to 
talk  about." 

This  might  be  considered  stretching  a  point,  considering  that  the 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  95 

town  was  actually  ringing  with  the  kidnapping  affair — tliougli,  as 
usual  on  similar  occasions,  without  a  single  correct  version  of  the 
story  being  afloat,  among  the  dozens  that  were  current ;  but  it 
greatly  relieved  G rover,  who  being  quite  ignorant  of  Jule's  escape, 
now  supposed  that  Miss  Montaigne  must  have  kept  secret  his  agency 
in  the  transaction.  But  Midge  had  gone  a  step  too  far ;  for  in  his 
anxiety  to  disclaim  any  knowledge  of  his  friend's  disaster,  he  had 
quite  forgotten  that  he  really  had  important  intelligence  to  commu- 
nicate. 

"  I  am  mistaken,  after  all,"  he  continued,  "  in  saying  there  is.  no 
news.  Cornbury  has  unpleasant  tidings  from  the  north  ;  Seabury 
and  his  command  have  been  surprised  by  the  Hurons,  and  George  is 
now  in  the  hands  of  Montaigne." 

"  Lieutenant  Seabury  a  prisoner  of  Montaigne  !  this  is  sad  news 
indeed,"  exclaimed  the  major,  his  countenance  lighting  up  with  a 
gleam  of  satisfaction,  which  contrasted  strangely  with  his  language 
— "  how  have  you  these  tidings  ?" 

"  By  an  Indian  express  from  Albany ;  the  runner  came  through 
in  two  days  and  reports  that  the  gari-ison  at  that  place  were  in 
hourly  apprehension  of  an  attack." 

"  They  need  not  fear  it,"  replied  Grover  ;  "  Indians  do  not  often 
attack  forts,  and  Montaigne  dare  not  venture  so  far  south  ;  this  lias 
been  done  by  some  outlying  band  of  savages — but  how  does  Corn- 
bury  bear  the  capture  of  his  nephew  ?" 

"  As  a  lioness  the  loss  of  a  whelp,"  replied  the  other ;  "  he  raves 
with  wrath — rails  at  the  home  government  for  not  keeping  him 
better  supplied  with  troops,  but  vents  his  fury  chiefly  on  the  French 
baron." 

"  Good  again !"  exclaimed  Grover,  heedlessly ;  "  but  what  docs 
he  say — what  does  he  say  ?" 

"  He  says  that  the  Queen's  ministers " 

"  No — no — no — what  does  he  say  of  the  Baron  Montaigne  ?" 

"  He  says  he  is  a  treacherous,  crafty,  cold-blooded  villain  ;  that  if 


yb  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON S. 

the  wliim  takes  him,  he  will  give  poor  George  to  the  savages  to  be 
tortured,  and  that  he  would  not  that  any  harm  should  happen  to 
the  lad  for  all  New  France !" 

"Said  he  so.  Midge,  said  he  so? — he  is  right — Seabury  is  a 
noble  fellow,  and  must  be  protected  at  all  hazards ;"  and  Grover, 
rising  to  his  feet,  traversed  the  room  with  an  excited  air  for  some 
minutes,  when,  turning  abruptly  to  his  companion,  he  continued  : 
"  Mr.  Midge,  will  you  do  me  the  great  favor  to  carry  an  immediate 
message  for  me  to  Lord  Cornbury,  confidential  and  important  ?" 

"  Oh,  with  the  greatest  possible " 

"Exactly.  I  anticipated  such  kindness;  I  have  had  occasion 
before  to  acknowledge  your  valuable  services,  and  shall  not  forget 
my  obligations — nay,  do  not  speak  now,  if  you  please,  but  listen  : 
go  to  Cornbury,  tell  him  that  I  can  jDlace  in  his  power,  within  the 
next  twenty-four  hours,  such  a  hostage  for  his  nephew  as  shall  bind 
the  Baron  Montaigne  by  his  very  heart-strings  !  Ask  him  to  send 
me  immediate  authority  for  the  arrest  and  safe-keeping  of  any 
member  of  the  baron's  family  who  may  now  be  in  the  province  of 
New  Yoi'k ;  and  tell  him  I  ask  no  other  reward  for  my  ser^^ces  than 
to  be  made  the  custodian  of  the  prisoner.  I  have  reasons  for  not 
going  personally  to  Cornbury  on  this  business,  and  I  know  that  I 
can  place  the  fullest  reliance  on  your  discretion  and  fidelity." 

"You  shall  not  regret  your  confidence  in  me,  Major  Grover," 
replied  the  ensign. 

"  One  word  more,"  added  the  major ;  "  you  will  understand  that  I 
do  not  desire  an  interview  with  the  governor,  nor  to  make  any 
explanations  ;  tell  him  despatch  is  required,  and  if  he  proposes  to 
come  and  see  me,  I  rely  upon  you  to  prevent  it ;  tell  him,  if  you 
choose,  that  I  am  absent  from  home,  arranging  the  preliminaries  of 
my  project.    Go  now,  if  you  please,  and  bring  me  a  speedy  answer." 

The  ensign  promised  leverything,  and  departed,  not  a  little 
dehghted  at  his  embassy,  and  at  being  the  depository  of  a  state 
secret. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  97 

"  This  Is  a  rare  turn  of  luck,"  continued  Grover,  in  soliloquy ; 
"  Cornbury  is  blind  with  rage,  and  will  readily  assent  to  my  propo- 
sition ;  having  once  passed  his  word  he  will  not  recede  from  it,  and 
Blanche  Montaigne  becomes  an  inmate  of  my  house !  And  why 
should  she  not  ?  If  she  is  not  the  '  captive  of  my  bow  and  spear,' 
the  fortune  of  war  has  at  least  thrown  her  into  my  hands  ;  Montaigne 
wages  no  civilized  warfare,  and  we  will  hold  him  in  check  by  what 
means  we  can.  .Women  have  been  hostages  before  now ;  and  where 
can  the  beautiful  Blanche  be  retained  with  less  scandal  than  in  the 
house  of  Major  Grover  ? — here  are  apartments  for  her  use,  servants 
for  her  attendance,  the  most  respectful,  ceremonious,  courteous 
treatment— at  least  as  far  as  the  world  will  know ;  and  as  for  the 
rest — I  alone  am  responsible." 

Grover  had  not  miscalculated  the  sentiments  or  actions  of  Lord 
Cornbury ;  the  messenger  returned,  armed  with  the  required  war- 
rant, and  with  a  pledge  of  the  fullest  compliance  with  what  the 
governor  called  the  whimsical  terms  of  his  friend.  The  message 
also  enjoined  speedy  action,  and  the  utmost  vigilance  to  prevent  any 
failure  of  so  momentous  and  useful  an  enterprise. 

"  Seemed  he  much  surprised,  ensign  ?"  inquired  Grover ;  "  or  did 
he  express  any  doubts  of  my  ability  to  make  good  my  engagement?" 
"He  did,  indeed,  express  surprise,"  replied  Midge,  "and  also 
some  incredulity  ;  he  said  it  was  possible  there  might  have  been  a 
diso-uised  son  or  other  relative  of  the  baron  among  the  discharged 
crew  of  the  St.  Cloud,  but  that  if  so,  he  had  doubtless  made  good 
his  escape  long  before  this." 

"  It  is  strange,  indeed,"  said  Grover,  with  an  absent  air,  "  that  there 
are  men  who  pass  through  life  with  their  eyes  wide  open,  and  yet 
fail  to  see  what  is  passing  directly  before  them ; — I  do  not,  of  com-se, 
mean  His  Excellency,  Mr.  Midge  !" 

"  Certainly  not,"  rephed  the  obsequious  ensign. 
The  young  man  lingered  some  time  with  the  hope  of  receiving 
some  further  clew  to  the  project  on  foot,  and  was  at  length  delighted 

5 


98  THE      KING      OF     THE     HURONS. 

by  a  request  from  liis  companion  to  call  on  the  ensuing  morning, 
prepared  to  lend  liis  aid  in  tlie  undertaking.  As  this  involved  an 
intimation  to  take  his  leave  for  the  present,  Mr.  Midge  gracefully 
"withdrew,  leaving  his  companion  wrapt  in  a  close-fitting  reverie.  If 
the  major  manifested  less  haste  than  Lord  Cornbury's  injunctions 
seemed  to  require,  it  was  because  he  felt  certain  that  Miss  Montaigne 
had  no  means  of  escape ;  and  because  the  arrangements  which  he 
contemplated  for  her  reception  required  more  time  than  the  fraction 
of  a  day  which  was  already  far  on  its  wane.  His  house  at  once 
exhibited  the  bustle  of  an  active  preparation  for  the  expected  guest ; 
and  while  no  accessaries  of  comfort  were  unprovided,  a  still  more 
studied  regard  was  paid  to  decoration.  Changes  that  wearied  con- 
jecture employed  the  astonished  domestics,  and  even  some  neigh- 
boring artisans,  until  a  late  hour  of  the  night,  while  the  personal 
supervision  of  Grover  extended  even  to  the  minuter  details  of  their 
labor. 

"  I  play  a  sure  card  at  length,"  he  said,  "  and  my  triumph  may 
well  be  graced  with  a  show  of  magnanimity." 

Mr.  Midge  was  not  behind  the  appointed  hour  in  his  return  on 
the  ensuing  morning,  yet  he  found  Major  Grover  impatiently  await- 
ing his  arrival,  and  learned  to  his  great  joy  that  the  important 
commission  was  to  be  intrusted  entirely  in  his  own  hands.  But  it 
was  with  some  abatement  of  his  delight,  though  with  unbounded 
surprise,  he  learned  that  the  person  to  be  secured  was  a  lady,  and  a 
daughter  of  the  renowned  Baron  Montaigne.  There  were  few 
laurels  to  be  won  in  such  an  enterprise,  but  there  was  favor  to  be 
gained  in  high  quarters,  which  was  an  object  of  equal  importance  to 
him,  and  he  resolved  on  the  faithful  and  judicious  performance  of  his 
trust. 

Grover  was  unwilling  to  be  personally  an  actor  in  an  event,  which, 
in  the  outset  at  least,  he  desired  to  represent  as  entirely  official,  and 
dictated  by  principles  of  state  policy.  He  knew  that  his  motives 
could  not  remain  unsuspected,  but  he  cared  nothing  for  a  public 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  99 

censure  which  did  not  cany  the  sting  of  ridicule,  and  which  was 
not  equal  to  the  frustration  of  his  designs.  He  believed,  as  has  been 
seen,  that  his  connexion  with  the  recent  attempt  to  carry  off  Miss 
Montaigne  was  not  publicly  known  ;  and  if  it  should  become  so,  he 
did  not  doubt  his  ability,  through  his  friends  and  parasites,  to  give 
it  a  coloring  which  should  not  reflect  seriously  to  his  disadvantage. 
His  success,  indeed,  in  his  present  achievement  was  to  become  sub- 
sequently a  matter  of  boast,  as  an  original  and  brilliant  exjiloit  in 
the  annals  of  gallantry,  well  calculated  to  obliterate  the  memory  of 
any  previous  failure. 

He  gave  ISIidge  an  accurate  description  of  the  person  of  Blanche, 
and  directed  him  to  accomphsh  his  errand  with  as  little  publicity  as 
possible,  and  with  all  proper  courtesy.  A  carriage  was,  of  course,  to 
be  provided  for  her  transportation,  and  she  was  to  be  allowed  any 
reasonable  time  to  make  preparations  for  what  was  to  be  represented 
to  her  as  merely  a  change  of  abode.  Major  Grover  was  not  to  be 
named  to  her  as  her  custodian,  or  as  being  in  any  way  connected 
with  the  movement ;  as  he  designed  that  her  first  knowledge  of  her 
felicity  in  that  respect  should  be  derived  from  himself,  and  under  his 
own  roof.  The  ensign  was  to  be  accompanied  informally  by  a  few 
men,  sufficient  to  enforce  his  authority ;  but  he  was  to  make  no 
unnecessary  exhibition  of  his  force,  which  was  not  to  accompany  the 
carriage  on  its  return. 

With  these  instructions,  which  were  expected  to  insure  both 
success  and  comparative  secresy,  the  inflated  ensign  set  out  upon  his. 
expedition,  and  at  an  early  hour  in  the  forenoon  alighted  from  his 
carriage  in  front  of  the  domicil  of  Jacobus  Waldron,  while  his  six 
followers  remained  within  easy  hailing  distance.  The  octogenarian 
sat  quietly  smoking  his  pipe  upon  his  front  stoop,  to  M^hich  Midge 
approached  with  a  pompous  air,  and,  pausing  at  the  entrance, 
notwithstanding  there  was  no  appearance  of  opposition  to  his  ingress, 
formally  demanded  admittance  in  the  Queen's  name.  Jacobus  did 
not  take  down  his  pipe  for  many  seconds,  and  was  still  pondering 


100  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

wliat  answer  should  be  given  to  so  ceremonious  a  request,  when  the 
demand  was  peremptorily  repeated. 

"Come  in,  den,  in  de  Queen's  name,  ef  you  want  to,  young 
man,"  he  said,  at  length  ;  "  de  door  is  mte  open ;  nobody  will  hui-t 
you." 

Midge  accordingly  marched  on  to  the  stoop,  and  advancing  to 
the  old  man,  said  : 

"  You  are  suspected  of  harboring  under  your  roof  Miss  Blanche 
Montaigne,  a  daughter  of  the  Baron  Montaigne,  of  New  France,  and 
I  have  authority  to  require  you  to  surrender  her  into  my  charge." 

"  Dere  is  no  such  beeples  in  mine  house,"  said  Jacobus,  shaking 
his  head. 

"  We  have  the  fullest  proof  that  she  is  a  resident  of  your  house," 
replied  Midge,  "  and  if  she  is  not  quietly  given  up,  I  must  at  once 
search  the  premises." 

"  Dere  is  no  such  beeples,  I  tell  you,"  exclaimed  the  old  man, 
waxing  angry  ;  "  dere  is  noboty  but  Sally,  and  Hans,  and  Doxy,  and 
Ruppy,  and  de  two  wenches,  and  de  tog." 

The  ensign,  unwilling  to  be  trifled  with,  stepped  to  the  outer 
edge  of  the  stoop,  and  waved  his  sword  as  a  signal  for  his  men  to 
advance. 

"  It  is  folly  to  deny  Miss  Montaigne's  presence,"  he  said ;  "  we 
know  that  she  is  here,  and  she  cannot  escape  us  ;  you  will  perceive 
that  I  have  authority  for  my  acts,"  he  continued,  exhibiting  his 
warrant;  "Anne — Regina — by  the  grace,  etc., — and  there's  the 
seal,  and  there's  the  signature — Cornbury." 

The  old  man  took  the  writ,  and  peered  at  it  with  much  earnest- 
ness for  some  minutes,  occasionally  deluging  it  with  an  emission  of 
smoke,  which  concealed  every  trace  of  the  paper  from  view,  after 
which  he  handed  it  calmly  back  to  the  ensign,  remarking,  as  before : 

"  Dere  is  no  such  beeples !" 

"Well,  sir,"  said  the  ensign,  still  reluctant  to  take  any  hai-sh 
measures ;  "  here  are  my  men  ;  and  although  I  had  hoped  to  avoid 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HrRQN^.    ,    ,  .  ,     ,      ,,   1,01, 

giving  the  lady  any  unnecessary  alarm,  I  must  do  my  duty ;  there 
is  not  the  least  harm  designed  to  your  guest,  and  if  you  will  pro- 
cure me  a  moment's  speech  with  her,  I  think  I  can  show  her  the 
necessity  of  a  peaceable  compliance  with  my  orders — otherwise, 
remember,  sir,  that  you  are  guilty  of  concealing  the  Queen's  enemies, 
and  may  have  to  answer  for  it  with  your  head." 

"  I  answer  mit  mine  head,  now,"  said  Jacobus,  shaking  that 
member  violently,  with  a  negative  gesture  ;  "  I  answer  no — no — no 
— dere  is  no  Montaignes,  nor  no  barons,  nor  no  lady  Blanches  in 
mine  house,  now  den  !" 

"  Come  on,  my  men  !"  exclaimed  Midge,  drawing  his  sword  with 
a  nervous  and  excited  air ;  "  let  these  two  remain  without,  to  guard 
the  doors,  and  see  that  no  one  escapes ;  the  rest  will  follow  me — 
forward,  march !"  and  the  ensign  led  the  way  into  the  nearest 
apartment,  which  proved  to  be  the  kitchen,  where  the  venerable 
partner  of  Mynheer  Waldron  sat  knitting  in  a  corner,  and  two  female 
slaves,  desisting  suddenly  from  their  labors,  stood  shaking  with  fear 
on  the  hearth. 

"  Hey  den  !"  exclaimed  the  old  lady,  in  a  sharp  key,  and  looking 
up  over  her  spectacles ;  "  w^iat  for  do  you  come  trainin'  in  my 
house  ?  isn't  der  room  enough  out  doors  for  you,  hey  ?" 

"  About  nineteen  years  old — five  feet,  six  inches  high — slight  in 
figure — very  fair — blue  eyes — brown  hair  in  ringlets,"  said  Midge, 
reading  from  a  memorandum  in  his  hand,  and  then  glancing 
momentarily  around  the  room  ;  "  She  isn't  here,  certainly,"  he  con- 
tinued :  and  without  condescending  to  give  any  reply  to  his  ques- 
tioner, he  passed  on  with  his  followers  into  another  apartment. 

The  house  was  by  no  means  a  large  one,  and  w  as  soon  explored 
from  cellar  to  attic ;  the  gTumbling  Jacobus  following  close  upon  the 
heels  of  his  visiters,  and  reminding  the  disconcerted  ensign,  at  every 
turn,  that  he  had  predicted  the  result.  No  doors  were  fastened,  no 
places  of  concealment  \asible,  and  no  attempt  made  in  any  way  to 
obstruct  the  search;    yet  neither   Blanche   nor  Emily  was  found. 


102  THE      E2.NG      OF      THE      HURONS. 

A  buxom  grancldaugliter  of  Mynheer  Waldron  was  surprised  at  her 
toilet,  and  although  she  was  at  once  passed  by,  as  not  answering  to 
the  description.  Midge  subsequently  resolved  to  make  more  sure  by 
a  closer  scrutiny.  But  there  was  evidently  nothing  artificial  about 
the  round  red  cheeks  and  flaxen  hair  of  Doxy  Waldron;  and 
although  her  plumpness  might  have  owed  something  to  her  apparel, 
there  was  no  such  thing  as  compressing  five  feet  six  inches  of  height 
into  the  short  squabby  figure  w^hich  stood  trembhng  before  the 
soldiers. 

*'  Let  me  go  if  you  please,"  said  the  frightened  girl — "  I'm  only 
Doxy ;  Miss  Blanche  Roselle,  and  Miss  Emily,  and  cousin  Henrich 


"  Shut  up  your  head,  youngster  !  shut  up  your  head !"  exclaimed 
old  Jacobus,  in  the  Dutch  language  and  in  a  loud  voice,  from  the 
back-ground,  where  he  had  been  for  some  time  pantomiming  to  the 
girl,  who  under  this  invocation  became  suddenly  mute ;  and,  not- 
withstanding all  the  entreaties  and  threats  of  Midge,  could  not  be 
persuaded  to  say  another  word.  The  Dutch  warning  was  sufficiently 
intelligible  to  the  ensign  by  its  effects ;  and  after  menacing  the  old 
man  with  the  punishment  of  the  laws,  he  resoh'ed  on  another  and 
still  more  vigorous  search,  which  Avas  accordingly  made,  and  with  a 
minuteness  that  could  have  overlooked  nothing  larger  than  a  mouse. 
Like  the  first,  however,  it  was  unsuccessful,  and  j\Ir.  Ensign  Midge 
betook  himself  to  his  carriage,  having  first  directed  his  men  to  return 
to  their  quarters,  by  as  many  different  roads  as  they  could  conve- 
niently find. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  103 


CHAPTER     XIII. 

"All  the  forest  rings,  and  every  neighboring  place, 
And  there  is  not  a  hound,  but  falletli  to  the  chase." — Drayton. 

A  LITTLE  retrogression  is  necessary  to  explain  tlie  preceding  chapter. 
On  the  morning  of  the  day  in  which  the  convalescing  Major  Grover 
tendered  his  valuable  services  to  the  government  in  obtaining  a 
hostage  to  be  made  of  Baron  Montaigne's  heart-strings,  Henrich 
Huntington  was  reminded  by  the  baying  of  hounds  away  over  in 
New  Jersey  that  it  was  fine  sporting  weather,  and  that  game  of 
some  kind  might  be  expected  to  be  abroad.  He  had  for  a  conside- 
rable time  been  a  stranger  to  the  woodlands,  and  an  unusual  longing 
for  the  chase  came  upon  him,  as  he  stood  looking  forestward,  and 
listening  to  the  familiar  sounds  which  came  faintly,  yet  distinct, 
through  the  still  morning  air. 

But  if  he  had  been  far  more  undecided  he  could  never  have 
resisted  the  invitation  which  he  presently  received  from  his  friend 
Bounder,  who  running  up  and  laying  his  sharp,  cold  nose  in  his 
master's  hand,  by  way  of  attracting  attention,  looked  wistfully  into 
his  face,  and  then  towards  the  woods,  wagging  his  tail  mean- 
while, and  occasionally  uttering  a  sort  of  half-suppressed  yelp. 
Bounder  said,  as  plainly  as  dog  could  say,  that  he  wanted  to  go  and 
bury  his  teeth  in  the  flank  of  a  stag,  and  that  he  was  in  very  good 
wind  for  that  purpose,  and  that  the  scent  would  lie  finely,  and  he 
would  do  his  duty  dogfully. 

"Shall  we  ^,  Bounder — shall  we  go?"  said  the  young  man, 
musingly ;  and  his  companion,  after  proving  his  right  to  his  name 


104  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

by  leaping  from  tlie  gi*onnd,  and  making  several  seeming  attempts 
to  effect  a  lodgment  upon  liis  master's  shoulders,  darted  forward 
about  forty  rods  toward  the  woods,  at  his  topmost  speed,  and  wr.s 
back  again  in  a  twinkling,  performing  every  variety  of  antics,  and 
answering  the  distant  echoes  with  his  voice. 

Henrich  entertained,  of  coui-se,  no  suspicions  of  any  impending 
danger  to  Blanche,  who,  in  the  large  household  by  which  she  was 
now  sun*ounded,  had  a  sufficient  guarantee  against  any  repetition  of 
the  lawless  attack  w^hich  she  had  so  recently  escaped.  Still  ignorant 
of  her  true  name  and  rank,  he  could  have  no  conception  of  the  new 
danger  to  which  she  was  soon  to  be  exposed,  and  if  it  was  not 
altogether  with  a  light  heart  that  he  went  forth  into  the  forest,  it 
was  at  least  with  no  fear  for  the  safety  of  his  friend. 

But  if  the  day  was  a  favorable  one  for  hunting,  it  availed  but  little 
to  Henrich,  whose  vexed  thoughts  were  themselves  winding  and 
doubling  in  too  many  directions  to  admit  of  successfully  following 
up  the  track  of  the  cunning  fox,  or  the  light-footed  deer ;  and  Avhose 
repeated  blunders  in  his  sport  were  a  matter  of  very  apparent  sur- 
prise, and  even  of  comment,  in  his  way,  to  the  disappointed  Bounder. 
He  had  spent  several  hours  in  ineffectual  labors  when  he  again  met 
the  young  Indian  know  n  by  the  name  of  Winny,  of  Avhom  mention 
has  been  made.  Winny  belonged  to  a  small  ti'ibe  of  Indians,  known 
as  the  Wappenos,  who  may  be  considered  the  original  Manhattanese, 
but  of  whom  few  traces  and  no  representatives  have  come  down  to 
the  present  day.  That  they  belonged  to  some  subdivision  of  the 
Five  Nations,  is  i)rol)able  rather  from  their  locality,  than  from  any 
evidence  that  avc  have  .  of  their  w^arlike  character.  They  were  on 
terms  of  amity  with  the  English,  of  whom  they  stood  in  no  little 
awe,  and  whose  friendship  they  cultivated  also  with  a  view  to  a 
traffic,  trifling  in  amount,  yet  of  much  consideration  to  them.  A 
village,  or  collection  of  huts  belonging  to  this  tribe,  was  situated  on 
the  western  side  of  the  island,  several  miles  north  of  the  city ;  but 
there  were  also  two  or  three  isolated  wio-w^ams  nearer  the  town,  which 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  105 

frequently  swarmed  with  tenants  in  the  warmer  months,  but  were 
abandoned  in  winter  for  the  advantage  of  contiguity  and  mutual 
assistance. 

Winny,  who  had  come  from  this  summer  residence,  and  was  going 
in  the  direction  of  the  Indian  settlement  when  he  encountered  Hen- 
rich,  seemed  in  unusual  haste,  and  manifested  no  degree  of  his 
accustomed  alacrity  to  converse  or  to  give  information  about  the 
probable  haunts  of  the  game.  This  reserve  was  the  more  remark- 
able, because  at  his  last  meeting  with  Huntington  he  had  been 
indebted  to  the  latter  for  the  privilege  of  drawing  the  bounty  on  the 
slain  wolf,  which  was  a  sum  of  great  value  to  the  savage.  It  was, 
indeed,  only  a  remembrance  of  this  obligation  that  restrained  him 
from  being  still  more  unsocial,  and  from  taking  an  abrupt  leave  of 
his  companion.  Observing  the  Indian's  reluctance  to  stop,  Henrich 
slightly  changed  his  course  and  walked  with  quickened  pace  by  his 
side,  still  questioning  him  on  matters  pertaining  to  the  chase,  and 
heedless  that  the  other  now  gave  still  greater  signs  of  dissatisfaction 
than  before. 

"  Winny  saw  deer,"  he  said  at  length,  pointing  towards  the  east 
side  of  the  island ;  "  going  that  way — with  horns  hke  that  1" 
spreading  the  fingers  of  both  hands. 

"  You  saw  a  stag  of  ten,  and  did  not  follow  him  I"  exclaimed 
Henrich,  with  a  look  of  incredulity. 

The  Indian  saw  that  he  was  disbelieved,  and  scorning  furtl*r 
equivocation,  he  rephed  impatiently  :  "  The  Panther  is  going  to  the 
council — he  must  go  alone." 

"  The  council,  Winny !"  said  Henrich,  who  perceived  by  his 
companion's  air,  and  by  the  use  of  his  symboHcal  name,  that  he  was 
in  earnest ;  "  why  this  is  the  first  I  have  heard  of  a  council  of  the 
Wappenos  in  a  long  time  ;  you  have  not  thirty  warriors  in  your 
tribe  ;  why  do  you  hold  councils  ?" 

"  The  Wappenos  are  few,"  replied  the  Indian  ;  "  once  they  were 

5* 


106  "THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

like  the  leaves ;  but  they  can  punish  the  foe  who  comes  alone  in 
their  camp." 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?"  said  Huntington,  who  began  to  antici- 
pate one  of  those  scenes  of  cruelty  which  were  occasionally  enacted 
among  the  more  powerful  tribes,  but  which  were  of  rare  occurrence 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city — "  what  does  this  mean,  Winny  ? 
tell  me  plainly — remember  that  I  am  your  friend." 

"  Henreek  is  the  friend  of  Winny,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  the  Panther 
has  no  ft'iend  among  the  whites." 

"  Nonsense  !"  said  Huntington,  laughing ;  "  I  am  your  fi-iend,  I 
tell  you,  and  the  friend  of  your  whole  tribe,  panthers,  bears,  and  all ; 
did  I  not  send  you  corn,  when  the  A^dnter  was  long  and  cold,  and 
the  snow  too  deep  for  hunting  ?" 

"  You  did,"  replied  the  savage,  grasping  the  hand  of  the  young 
man ;  "  it  is  written  in  our  hearts — our  children  know  it ;  listen, 
Henreek,  but  be  not  like  the  mocking  bird,  to  speak  again — listen, 
but  bury  my  words  in  your  breast." 

Winny  proceeded  in  this  metaphorical  strain  to  tell  at  some 
length  what  may  be  better  repeated  in  simpler  language.  A  Huron 
Indian,  in  disguise  as  a  Mohawk,  had  been  found  the  day  before 
skulking  on  the  island,  and  seeking  to  evade  observation.  Failing  in 
this,  he  had  at  first  succeeded,  by  his  dress  and  air,  in  passing  him- 
self off  for  a  Mohawk,  and  consequently  a  fi-iend  of  the  English,  and 
o^  the  tribes  in  their  alliance ;  but  was  soon  detected  by  means  of 
some  unutterable  shibboleth  in  the  language  of  his  assumed  tribe. 
It  was  to  decide  the  fate  of  this  man  that  the  council  was  called, 
and  as  his  sentence  would  probably  be  death  by  torture,  the  reason 
of  Winny's  desire  for  secresy  became  apparent.  The  English 
government  had  several  times  interposed  to  prevent  similar  deeds 
of  barbarity  among  the  tribes  on  Long  Island,  and  the  savages  had 
become  exceedingly  jealous  of  an  interference  with  what  they  con- 
sidered almost  their  only  remaining  act  of  sovereignty.  But  the  Indian 
lia\ing  become  thus  far  communicative,  was   ea.sily  prevailed  on  to 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  107 

allow  nun  ting-ton  to  accompany  liim  to  the  village.  The  popularity 
of  the  young  man  among  the  Wappenos,  and  his  own  influence  as 
a  son  of  a  chief,  would  protect  the  Panther  from  any  severe  censure, 
and  if  it  became  necessary  for  Henrich  to  withdraw,  the  secret, 
AVinny  beUeved,  would  still  be  safe. 

They  were  not  long  in  reaching  the  settlement,  which  was 
situated  in  a  partial  opening  of  the  forest,  where  the  trees  were  large 
and  sparsely  set,  and  the  ground  was  free  from  bushes.  The 
lodges,  some  twenty  in  number,  stood  at  the  distance  of  a  few  rods 
from  each  other,  on  the  sides  of  a  sort  of  hollow  square,  if  that  may 
be  called  such,  which  was  in  reality  neither  square  nor  hollow. 
Within  this  arena  a  commotion  was  already  visible,  indicative  of 
some  important  movement :  women  were  assembled  in  knots  at  the 
doors,  talking  and  gesticulating,  some  sitting  and  some  standing, 
while  half  clad  children  were  running  around  in  glee,  stopping 
occasionally  to  peep  through  the  chinks  of  a  closed  and  guarded 
shanty,  and  holding  up  small  bundles  of  fagots  to  the  view  of  its 
inmate,  by  way  of  a  foreshadowing  of  his  fate. 

The  warriors  were  assembled  in  and  about  the  principal  lodge, 
wearing,  in  general,  an  air  of  great  gravity ;  yet  some  of  the 
youngrr  braves  were  giving  way  to  occasional  turns  of  merriment  or 
exultation,  without  reproof.  The  Panther  and  Henrich  went  directly 
to  this  council-hall,  where  the  latter  was  at  first  eyed  with  much 
suspicion,  but  was  soon  generally  recognised  and  welcomed. 

"He  is  our  brother— he  is  welcome,"  said  the  principal  chief; 
and  the  young  men  made  room  for  him  beside  themselves  on  the 
gi-ass,  while  Bounder,  after  coursing  the  enclosure,  and  looking 
curiously  into  several  of  the  lodges,  threw  himself  panting  at  his 

side. 

The  council  was  soon  opened  within  the  wigwam,  those  entitled 
to  a  voice  in  its  proceedings  ranging  themselves  decorously  m  order, 
while  those  without  awaited  the  result  in  silence.  There  was  some 
division  of  sentiment,  and  more  than  an  hour  elapsed  before  the 


108  THE     KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

opinions  were  all  delivered ;  but  the  result  proved  the  predominance 
of  a  sanguinary  spirit  among  the  judges.  The  Huron  was  sentenced 
to  run  the  gantlet,  and,  if  he  escaped  that  ordeal,  to  subsequent 
torture  and  death.  He  was  at  once  brought  out  upon  the  square  to 
receive  intelligence  of  his  doom,  which  he  heard  in  silence,  and  with 
the  affectation  of  indifference  usual  to  his  race  on  such  occasions ; 
but  a  close  observer  could  easily  detect  in  the  forced  compression  of 
his  lips,  and  in  the  slight  flaring  of  his  nostrils,  the  signs  of  mental 
emotion.  He  was  a  tall,  well  formed  man,  of  about  thirty  years, 
with  features  which  would  have  been  far  from  ugly,  separate  from 
their  mask  of  paint,  and  with  an  eye,  more  especially,  which  would 
have  redeemed  a  still  greater  disfigurement  of  face  from  being 
wholly  loathsome.  Its  iris,  bright,  black,  and  large,  rolled  around 
its  little  orbit  with  a  rapid  motion,  seeming  to  dnnk  in  everything 
within  the  scope  of  its  vision  ;  while  not  only  the  head,  but  the 
muscles  of  the  face,  remained  unmoved. 

Henrich  had  resolved  to  make  an  effort  to  prevent  the  threatened 
tragedy,  but  he  knew  that  the  savages  were  jealous  of  their  prero- 
gative, and  that  if  he  could  succeed  at  all,  it  would  be  only  by  the 
utmost  tact.  To  interfere  with  the  deliberations  of  the  council  would 
give  the  greatest  offence,  and  diminish  the  chance  of  his  subsequent 
influence.  He  even  resolved  not  to  object  to  the  execution  of  the 
first  part  of  the  sentence  which  was  more  formidable  in  sound  than 
in  reahty,  and  which  never  resulted  fatally,  to  a  man  of  the  least 
courage ;  it  was  intended,  indeed,  rather  as  an  intimidation  than  a 
punishment,  although  it  often  resulted  in  severe  and  sometimes  in 
mortal  wounds.  A  view  of  the  athletic,  compact,  sinewy  frame  of 
the  Huron  convinced  him  that  the  latter  would  come  off  nearly 
unscathed  from  the  ordeal,  and  the  very  fact  of  his  being  also 
doomed  to  the  stake  would  prevent  a  desire  on  the  part  of  his  cap- 
tors to  terminate  his  life  in  the  first  instance.  It  was  of  course  with 
great  reluctance  that  Huntington  resolved  to  behold  the  approaching 
spectacle,  but  believing  that  the  best  interests  of  the  piisoner  required 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S.  109 

such  a  course,  lie  determined  to  remain  as  yet  a  silent  observer  of 
events. 

The  scene  which  ensued  may  be  briefly  described.  The  Wap- 
penos,  men  and  women,  and  many  of  the  larger  children,  armed 
with  knives,  clubs,  and  sticks,  of  various  kinds,  ranged  themselves  in 
two  parallel  rows,  terminating  at  one  end  in  fi-ont  of  a  lodge,  the 
door  of  which  stood  open,  and  leaving  between  the  lines  a  space  of 
about  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  width.  All  who  chose  were  at  liberty  to 
take  a  place  in  the  ranks,  and  but  few  of  the  adults,  excepting  those 
who  were  physically  incapacitated,  refused  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
privilege.  There  were  indeed  several  squaws,  who  stood  aloof,  min- 
gling, as  spectators,  with  the  children,  and  the  principal  chief  also 
remained  inactive,  occupying  a  convenient  post  of  observation  at  one 
end  of  the  line.  Henrich  was  offered  a  club,  and  invited  to  take 
part  in  the  performance,  and  but  for  the  irrepressible  signs  of  abhor- 
rence wdth  which  he  dechned,  would  doubtless  have  been  impor- 
tuned to  comply. 

TVhen  everything  w^as  ready,  the  Huron  was  brought  forward  and 
unbound,  his  eye,  meanwdiile,  running  rapidly  over  the  ranks,  as  if 
estimating  the  danger  and  discovering  the  most  perilous  localities. 
The  task  before  him  was  to  run  through  this  alley,  between  these  liring 
walls,  in  such  manner  and  with  such  speed  as  he  chose,  but  through 
he  must  go,  and  wdiile  all  his  foes  were  privileged  to  inflict  upon  him 
such  blows  as  they  could  deal  while  he  was  passing,  none  was 
permitted  to  stir  out  of  his  place  in  pursuit.  No  dexterity  or  feint 
of  the  prisoner,  and  no  manoiuvre,  in  the  way  of  dodging  or 
doubling,  were  exceptionable  ;  his  only  task  was  to  reach  the  oppo- 
site end  of  the.  line  with  as  much  impunity  as  possible. 

The  signal  w^as  given  and  the  Huron  started  like  an  arrow  from 
the  string.  The  first  dozen  of  his  foes  struck  only  the  empty  air  in 
his  path,  and  the  clubs  of  the  next  whizzed  idly  above  his  head.  He 
was  now  stooping  to  the  earth,  and  now  bounding  in  the  air,  at  one 
breath  on  one  side  of  the  line,  and  the  next  on  the  other,  twisting. 


110  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

turning,  gliding,  crawling,  and  almost  defpng  the  pursuit  of  the 
eye,  much  more  the  hasty  and  ill-directed  blows  of  his  eager 
enemies.  About  half  way  down  the  lane  the  ranks  were  chiefly 
occupied  by  boys  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen  years,  and  having  reached 
this  point  with  but  little  injury  he  paused  a  moment  to  take  breath, 
bearing  meanwhile  with  little  regard,  the  furious  pummelhng  of  the 
children.  In  the  interval  beyond,  were  some  of  the  most  vigorous 
and  expert  of  his  enemies,  including  the  vigilant  Panther ;  and 
although,  discerning  their  position  at  a  glance,  he  started  forward  with 
increased  wariness  and  skill,  it  was  not  with  a  success  equal  to  that 
which  had  hitherto  attended  him.  He  received  several  severe  con- 
tusions, was  once  nearly  stricken  to  the  earth,  and  when  he  at  length 
reached  the  refuge  lodge,  was  bleeding  from  a  number  of  superficial 
wounds. 

A  httle  noisy  discussion  next  ensued  among  the  Wappenos  on 
the  subject  of  their  respective  successes  and  failures  in  their  recent 
pastime,  which  seemed  to  be  regarded  somewhat  in  the  light  in 
which  a  game  at  cricket  is  viewed  by  the  young  men  of  civilized 
life,  after  which  active  preparations  were  at  once  commenced  for  the 
closing  tragedy.  Henrich  drew  curiously  near  to  the  Huron, 
about  whom  the  leaders  of  the  savages  had  assembled,  and 
for  the  first  time  caught  the  eye  of  the  prisoner,  which,  as  it  rested 
for  a  moment  upon  his  own,  and  then  glanced  hastily  at  the  grow- 
ing pyre  without,  had  a  mournful  and  appealing  expression,  sufficient 
to  counterbalance  a  thousand  proofs  of  stoicism.  The  Indian  clung 
to  life,  he  shrank  from  the  awful  change ;  he  quailed  before  the 
instruments  of  torture.  Young,  active,  and  vigorous,  he  was  but 
yesterday  free  as  the  mountain  air,  free  to  traverse  the  boundless 
forests,  and  glide  over  lake  and  river,  with  his  light  canoe,  with 
half  a  century's  lease  of  life  stretching  in  bright  perspective  before 
liim— and  now,  he  was  a  captive  in  his  enemy's  camp,  listening  to 
the  sound  of  whetted  weapons,  preparing  for  his  own  immolation, 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  Ill 

and  recalling  to  memory  by  word  and  cadence  tlie  death-song  of 
his  tribe. 

Stimulated  by  the  silent  appeal  of  the  Huron,  Huntington  at  once 
began  the  work  of  intercession ;  but  it  was  only  to  meet  with  frigid 
looks,  and  with  answers  of  surprise  and  displeasure.  The  response, 
indeed,  w^as  unanimous  against  clemency,  and  the  Indians  even  mani- 
fested impatience  at  an  interruption,  which  delayed  their  anticipated 
sport ;  for,  as  Henrich  became  importunate,  the  w^ondering  savages 
had  crowded  around  him,  until,  the  work  of  preparation  being  tempo- 
rarily abandoned,  even  the  women  and  children  had  mingled  with 
the  curious  throng. 

"  The  words  are  said  !"  exclaimed  the  senior  chief,  alluding  to  the 
voice  of  the  council ;  "  they  are  gone  into  the  air,  and  cannot  be 
found  again — the  Huron  must  die  !" 

A  general  murmur  of  approval  followed  this  decision,  in  which, 
as  Henrich  observed  vnth  foreboding,  even  his  friend,  the  Panther, 
joined.  He  next  tried  to  effect  a  ransom  ;  and  although  able'to  give 
but  little  which  could  gratify  the  cupidity  of  so  many,  he  was  carefrd 
to  offer  such  things  as  would  appeal  most  to  their  peculiar  w^ants : 
his  rifle,  a  dozen  canisters  of  powder  and  half  as  many  kegs  of  the 
enticino^  fire-water  were  offered,  and,  strange  to  say,  were  all  refused. 
Henrich  knew  nothing  more  that  he  could  do.  The  dialect  of  the 
Wappenos,  in  which  he  had  spoken,  possessed  sufhcient  resemblance 
to  the  language  of  the  Hurons  to  be  intelligible  to  the  prisoner,  as 
was  proved  by  the  look  of  gratitude  which  the  latter  bestowed  upon 
his  young  friend ;  but  there  was  at  the  same  time  an  expression  of 
hopelessness  in  his  features,  which  showed  that  he  understood  better 
than  his  advocate  the  character  of  the  enemies  with  whom  he  had 
to  deal. 

Among  those  who  had  pressed  to  the  front  of  the  throng,  sifted, 
as  it  were,  through  the  interstices,  wTre  some  half-clad  children, 
amonf^  whom,  at  this  juncture,  a  sudden  quarrel  ensued,  for  the 
possession    of    something   which   had   been    found    on   the   arena 


112  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

recently  traversed  by  the  flying  Huron,  and  wliich  at  once  attracted 
general  attention.  As  it  passed  from  hand  to  hand  among  the 
Indians,  it  soon  took  shape,  to  the  eyes  of  the  astonished  Henrich,  as 
a  sealed  letter,  bearing  a  superscription ;  but  how  was  his  amaze- 
ment increased,  when  at  length  obtaining  possession  of  it  in  his  turn, 
he  read  the  endorsement :  "  To  Father  Ledra,  or  the  Misses  Roselle, 
in  the  city  and  province  of  New  York."  He  remained  gazing  long 
and  steadfastly  at  the  writing,  marvelling  what  new  and  unrevealed 
mystery,  in  regard  to  Blanche,  was  about  to  be  evolved  ;  and  on 
again  looking  up  he  saw  that  the  prisoner's  eyes  were  fixed  upon 
him  with  an  intelligent  and  steady  gaze. 

"  Does  it  speak  to  you  ?"  asked  the  senior  chief,  who  with  his 
companions  had  closely  observed  Henrich's  surprised  air ;  "  does  it 
talk  to  our  brother,  and  what  are  its  words  ?" 

"  It  speaks  !"  rephed  Huntington,  solemnly,  "  and  its  words  are 
many ;  it  says  that  the  Huron  was  not  upon  the  war-path  when  he 
came  into  the  camp  of  his  enemy  ;  that  he  did  not  come  looking  for 
the  scalps  of  the  Wappenos." 

"  Huh  !"  exclaimed  the  chief,  who,  in  common  with  his  race, 
entertained  no  conception  of  the  art  of  conveying  ideas  by  writing, 
and  looked  upon  written  language,  of  which  he  had  heard  something 
among  the  whites,  as  a  production  of  magic  ;  "  huh  !"  he  exclaimed, 
sarcastically  ;  "  ask  it  why  then  the  Huron  has  come,  if  not  for 
scalps  ;  is  there  no  game  in  the  forests  of  the  north  ?" 

"  It  says,"  replied  Henrich,  "  that  far  away  by  the  bright  lakes, 
an  old  man  weeps  for  his  daughters,  who  are  captives  of  your  Eng- 
lish father  in  New  York ;  and  that  he  will  listen  long  for  the  feet  of 
the  swift  runner,  and  for  his  voice  to  tell  him  that  his  children  are 
yet  alive." 

"  He  will  listen  long,"  replied  the  unmoved  chieftain,  "  if  he  waits 
for  the  false  Maqua,  who  came  to  Manahatta,  with  the  face  of  a 
Mohock,  and  the  heart  of  a  Huron— does  it  say  anything  else  ?" 

"  It  says  nothing  more,"  replied  Henrich,  sadly,  yet  earnestly  ;  "but 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  113 

there  is  a  voice  fi-om  the  Great  Spirit,  which  speaks  to  you,  old  man, 
and  forbids  this  horrible  sacrifice — \Thich  says,  '  Shed  not  innocent 
blood  :'  which  says  that  the  happy  hunting  fields  will  be  closed  to 
the  cruel  and  revengeful  man." 

"  I  do  not  hear  it !"  answered  the  chief,  looking  upward  for  a 
moment,  and  then  turning  slowly  away  ;  "  the  words  of  our  white 
brother  are  too  many :  wise  men  speak  but  once." 

Henrich  was  about  to  make  a  final  appeal  by  largely  increasing 
Jiis  offered  ransom,  when  he  felt  himself  pulled  suddenly  by  the 
sleeve,  and  on  looking  down  he  saw  a  pair  of  glowing  eyes  fixed 
intently  upon  him,  and  slowly  receding  at  the  same  time  into  the 
depths  of  the  crowd.  As  he  gazed,  he  gradually  recognized  the 
features  of  an  Indian,  known  as  the  Weasel,  whom  he  had  frequently 
met  in  the  city,  and  who  now  evidently  desired  to  make  some  private 
communication  to  him.  He  w^as  celebrated  among  his  brethren  as 
an  orator ;  but  was,  in  reality,  a  wordy,  windy,  sham  patriot,  exceed- 
ingly fond  of  intoxicating  drinks,  and  indulging  in  his  favorite 
propensity  to  a  shameless  extent,  whenever  a  favorable  opportunity 
occurred.  As  the  general  attention  became  at  once  engaged  in  the 
renewed  preparations  for  the  Huron^s  death,  Henrich  found  no 
difficulty  in  following  the  Weasel  and  obtaining  an  interview  with 
him. 

The  Indian  had  a  proposition  to  make,  which,  divested  of  its 
parade  of  words,  amounted  to  this  ;  that  his  own  heart  was  touched 
by  the  condition  of  the  unfortunate  captive,  that  he  remembered 
with  gratitude  the  former  ser\ices  of  Henrich  to  his  tribe  in  the 
time  of  famine,  and  that  he  would  undertake  to  bring  about  the 
release  of  the  Huron  for  the  ransom  which  had  been  offered,  and 
for  one  additional  keg  of  rum  for  his  private  benefit.  Henrich 
caught  with  avidity  at  this  offer,  improbable  as  it  seemed  of  fulfil- 
ment. 

"  But  how,"  he  said,  "  can  you  do  this  1  did  you  not  give  your 
voice  for  the  prisoner's  death,  and  advocate  it  with  a  speech  2" 


114  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

"  I  did,"  answered  the  iDdian  ;  "  but  my  mind  has  turned  over," 
turning  his  hand,  by  way  of  illustrating  his  meaning  ;  "  I  will  turn 
my  brothers'  too." 

The  orator  entered  at  once  upon  his  task.  He  took  his  position 
upon  a  slight  eminence  near  the  centre  of  the  square,  and  commenc- 
ing an  energetic  address,  at  once  drew  around  him  the  gratified 
savages,  who,  knowing  what  had  been  his  views  and  vote  in  council, 
anticipated  only  an  inflammatory  exhortation  to  persevere  in  their 
design,  and,  perhaps,  a  suggestion  of  some  new  and  ingenious 
varieties  of  torture.  Tlie  Weasel  knew  well  the  disappointment 
which  he  was  about  to  create ;  and  he  approached  his  subject  care- 
fully, and  fi-om  a  remote  position.  Only  gradually  unfolding  his 
design,  he  fortified  his  premises  by  earnest  and  impressive  appeals, 
while  his  hearers  were  yet  uncertain  of  the  conclusion  to  which  they 
tended.  He  spoke  of  the  famine  from  which  they  had  suffered,  and 
described  by  word  and  gesture  the  hollow  cheeks  and  shrivelled 
limbs  of  themselves  and  their  children ;  he  told  of  their  inability  to 
procure  food,  of  their  unwillingness  to  beg  in  the  great  city,  of  an 
old  warrior  who  had  sung  his  death-song  in  his  empty  cabin — and 
finally  "  brought  down  the  house "  by  a  suddenly  drawn  picture  of 
the  good  Henrich  appearing  in  their  midst,  with  a  sleigh-load  of 
yellow  maize. 

"  Look  around  you,"  he  said,  "  and  you  will  see  the  tracks  of  his 
horses,  just  where  he  stood  but  now,  when  you  stopped  your  ears 
to  his  prayers." 

The  mortified  Wappenos  showed  that  they  felt  the  indirect  taunt 
of  the  orator,  who  still  refrained  from  any  avowal  of  his  design : 
when,  at  length,  however,  he  declared  it,  he  saved  himself  from  the 
charge  of  inconsistency  by  professing  not  to  have  known  at  the  time 
of  giving  his  voice  against  the  captive,  that  their  benefactor  desired 
his  release.  He  dwelt  briefly  upon  the  peculiar  mission  of  the  Huron, 
as  one  which  entitled  him  to  clemency,  and  did  not  fail  to  dilate 
temptingly  upon  the  ransom  which   Henrich  stood   ready  to  give ; 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  115 

he  spoke,  indeed,  of  ever3rtliing  connected  witli  the  affair,  with  the 
exception  of  his  own  promised  counsel-fee,  and  on  that  subject,  he 
maintained  a  discreet  silence.  He  closed  his  remarks  with  a  forcible 
and  effective  peroration,  reminding  his  brethren  that  the  council 
doors  w^ere  still  open,  and  that  they  should  be  glad  that  the  oppor- 
tunity yet  remained  to  retrace  their  stej)s,  and  wipe  out  the  stain  of 
ingratitude  from  their  character. 

Henrich  watched  with  much  anxiety  the  countenances  of  the 
auditors,  and  was  rejoiced  to  see  the  signs  of  general  relenting. 
The  judges,  at  the  instigation  of  the  Weasel,  returned  formally  to 
the  lodge  where  they  had  sentenced  the  prisoner,  and  after  a  little 
deliberation,  revoked  their  former  decision,  wdth  but  a  few  dissenting 
voices.  Henrich  received  the  tidings  with  the  greatest  exultation, 
which  he  manifested  by  shaking  hands  with  the  whole  court,  and, 
finally,  with  the  Huron,  to  whom  he  had  the  pleasure  of  bringing 
the  first  news  of  his  freedom. 

It  was  difficult  to  convince  the  captive  that  he  was  really  dis- 
charged ;  and  it  was  not  until  in  company  with  Huntington  he 
had  left  the  camp  of  his  enemies,  that  he  could  beheve  himself  at 
liberty.  His  delight  w^as  evidently  extreme,  although  it  w^as 
manifested  less  in  language  than  in  looks  and  manner.  He 
resigned  himself  implicitly  to  Henrich's  guidance,  who  returned  to 
him  his  lost  packet,  and  undertook  to  conduct  him  at  once  to 
the  persons  to  whom  it  was  addressed.  It  would  have  been  an 
easy  matter  at  that  moment  to  win  from  the  confiding  Huron  the 
w^hole  secret  of  his  errand,  and  its  author,  and  thus  to  solve  to  some 
extent,  the  mystery  which  enveloped  Blanche ;  but  Henrich  was 
incapable  of  taking  such  an  advantage  of  his  position.  To  induce 
the  savage  to  violate  his  trust,  or  to  penetrate  by  any  means  a 
secret  which  his  friend  was  desirous  to  conceal,  was  an  act  repulsive 
to  his  sense  of  duty;  and  although  an  unbounded  curiosity  per- 
vaded his  mind  to  know  the  origin  and  tendency  of  the  Indian's 
mission,  he  conducted  him,  unquestioned,  to  his  own  home.     There 


116  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

he  at  once  obtained  an  interview  with  the  ladies,  introduced  to 
them  his  companion,  as  one  who  was  seeking  their  presence,  and 
having  learned  that  although  much  amazed,  they  were  not  afraid  to 
be  left  alone  with  the  messenger,  withdrew,  and  left  the  Huron  to 
tell  his  own  story. 

His  forbearance  and  delicacy  were  rewarded  by  a  speedy  summons 
to  return  to  the  ladies,  and  aid  them  with  his  counsel  m  a  new  and 
important  emergency. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  Il7 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

"  We  are  alone  ; 
But  how  I  should  begin,  or  in  what  language 
Speak  the  unwilling  word  of  parting  from  you, 
I  am  yet  to  learn." — Massinger, 

"  We  are  compelled,  Mr.  Huntington,"  said  Blanche,  rising  with 
an  excited  air,  as  Henrich  entered  the  room,  "to  make  you  the 
depositary  of  a  few  secrets,  which,  if  they  were  ever  important,  will 
cease  to  be  so  when  we  are  gone." 

"  Gone  !"  answered  Henrich,  with  astonishment, — "  whither  ? — by 
what  means  ?  surely.  Miss  Roselle,  you  are  not  in  earnest " 

"  We  are  summoned,"  rephed  Blanche,  interrupting  him,  "  by  one 
who  has  the  right  to  control  our  movements,  and  who  doubtless  has 
properly  provided  for  our  safety.  But  I  will  explain  all :  you  are 
already  acquainted  with  some  of  the  circumstances  connected  with 
our  accidental  arrival  in  this  city — the  shipwreck  of  the  St.  Cloud — 
the  singular  escape  of  one  of  her  passengers,  and  the  subsequent 
banishment  of  our  friend  and  protector.  Father  Ledra." 

"  I  know  the  whole  sad  story,"  said  Henrich ;  "  the  fugitive,  of 
whom  you  speak,  was  the  haughty  and  powerful  Baron  Montaigne ; 
the  friend  and  counsellor  of  Louis ;  the  man  by  whose  courage  and 
diplomacy  with  the  Indian  nations,  the  whole  tottering  government 
of  New  France  has  long  been  upheld — whose  craft  and  cruelty 
have " 

"  Mr.  Huntington  is  speaking  of  my  father,"  rejoined  Miss  Mon- 
taigne, ^vith  quiet  dig*nity. 


118  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  8. 

Amazement  for  a  while  held  the  young  man  silent ;  and  when  he 
again  spoke,  it  was  with  the  apology  that  the  occasion  seemed  to 
require. 

"  The  picture  is  drawn  by  his  enemies,"  he  said,  "  and  we  may 
easily  suppose  that  it  is  not  impartial :  I  can  beheve  nothing  ill  of 
the  father  of  Miss  Blanche  Montaigne." 

"  The  packet  which  we  have  received,"  continued  Miss  Montaigne, 
"  I  need  scarcely  say,  is  from  him ;  but  it  has  been  prepared  with 
reference  to  the  contingency  of  falling  into  other  hands  than  ours, 
and  contains,  therefore,  no  explicit  information.  A  few  words 
without  a  signature,  but  in  penmanship  which  is  familiar  to  me, 
instruct  us  to  trust  ourselves  with  implicit  confidence  to  the  protec- 
tion of  the  bearer, — a  Huron  Chief,  called  the  Lynx, — and  whom 
we  are  to  know  as  genuine  by  his  knowledge  of  us.  We  have  not 
yet  proved  him ;  because  feeling  the  importance  of  avoiding  any 
error  on  so  vital  a  point,  we  dared  not  rely  upon  our  own  judgment 
alone :  Emily  has  frightened  me  with  a  horrible  supposition  that 
the  true  messenger  may  have  Mien  into  the  hands  of  foes,  who  have 
obtained  his  credentials,  and  now  seek  to  decoy  us  into  their 
power." 

"  Too  much  caution  cannot  be  used  where  everything  is  at  stake," 
replied  Henri ch,  with  a  saddened  air ;  "  I  think  I  have  already 
sufficient  proof  that  the  Indian  is  a  Huron — yet  we  will  leave  nothing 
to  conjecture ;  but  how  is  he  accompanied  ?  where  is  his  force  ?  and 
what  are  his  means  of  conveyance  ?  You  surely  will  not  confide 
yourselves  to  the  charge  of  a  single  man,  however  trustworthy  ?" 

"  It  is  not  probable  that  we  are  required  to  do  so,"  said  Blanche ; 
"  but  we  know  nothing  as  yet — the  savage  seemed  suffering  from 
fatigue  and  hunger,  and  is  now  partaking  of  your  grandfother's 
hospitality ;  he  will  rejoin  us  in  a  few  minutes,  and  we  trust  to  you 
to  interrogate  him  as  to  all  the  particulars  of  his  mission." 

She  had  scarcely  ceased  speaking  when  the  Huron  stalked 
silently  into  the  room,  and  answering  an  invitation  to  be  seated  by 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  119 

a  graceful  wave  of  the  hand,  remained  standing  erect  and  dignified, 
and  seemingly  awaiting  his  exj^ected  examination.  Henrich  was 
familiar  with  the  abrupt  and  sententious  style  of  colloquy  used  by 
the  Indians,  and  naturally  adoj^ted  it  in  con\ersing  with  them  ;  he 
addressed  the  stranger  in  French,  which  the  latter,  like  many  of  his 
northern  brethren,  spoke  with  tolerable  correctness. 

"  My  brother  comes  with  a  talking  paper,"  he  said  ;  "  can  he  tell 
us  what  it  says  ?" 

"  It  talks  to  /i^r,"  answered  the  Huron,  laying  his  hand  lightly 
on  the  head  of  Blanche,  "  and  to  her,"  pointing  to  Emily,  "  and  to 
an  old  man,  with  long  white  hair — I  do  not  see  him  :  it  talks  to 
them,  not  to  me  ;  I  have  listened,  but  cannot  hear  it." 

"  AYhose  are  its  words  ?"  asked  Henrich. 

The  Indian's  countenance  brightened  and  assumed  a  loftier 
expression  as  he  answered  :  "  they  are  the  words  of  my  cousin,  the 
great  general — the  Baron  Montaigne — the  King  of  the  Hurons  ;  and 
this,"  he  said,  again  touching  the  head  of  Blanche — "  this  is  liis 
daughter." 

"  And  this  ?"  asked  Henrich,  pointing  towards  Miss  Roselle. 

"  Is  his  sister's  child — I  have  said — I  have  but  one  tongue,  and  it 
is  not  forked." 

"  Yonr  words  are  true,"  replied  Henrich,  "  we  receive  them  into 
our  hearts  ;  yet  tell  us  of  this  Baron  Montaigne :  what  is  he  like  ?" 

"  He  is  a  great  Brave,"  said  the  savage,  with  an  air  of  unbounded 
admiration — "bold  as  the  grizzly  bear — quick  as  the  elk — with 
eagle's  eyes — tall,  large,  straight  as  the  oak — I  cannot  speak 
him." 

"  It  is  enough !"  exclaimed  Blanche,  offering  her  hand  frankly  to 
the  Huron — "  you  are  our  friend ;  tell  me,"  she  said,  with  an  affec- 
tionate interest,  which  showed  that  desertion  and  neglect  had  not 
chilled  her  filial  love — "  tell  me,  is  my  father  well  ? — did  he — did  he 
speak  kindly  of  me  ?" 

The  Indian   answered  only :  "  He  is  well ;"  and  Blanche  turned 


120  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

aside  to  hide  the  gushing  tears  which  told  how  bitterly  she  was 
disappointed. 

The  remaining  part  of  the  messenger's  story  was  soon  told  :  he 
was  one  of  a  company  of  seven,  who  had  descended  the  lakes  and 
the  Hudson  river  in  canoes,  and  who,  passing  the  few  settlements 
and  exposed  places  always  under  cover  of  the  night,  had  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Xew  York  without  molestation.  There  had  been,  indeed, 
no  recent  active  hostilities  between  the  French  and  English  at  the 
time  of  the  setting  out  of  this  expedition ;  and  as  far  as  Montaigne 
could  learn  from  his  ^^gilant  runners,  there  were  no  Indians  on  the 
war-path,  in  that  part  of  the  territory  of  the  Five  Nations  which  it 
would  be  necessary  to  traverse.  These  circumstances,  in  connexion 
with  the  almost  uninterrupted  line  of  water  communication  for  the 
whole  route,  and  the  width  of  the  river  and  lakes,  which  would 
permit  of  avoiding  an  enemy  on  either  side,  were  supposed  to  render 
the  proposed  journey  of  the  ladies  reasonably  safe,  in  an  age  and 
country  in  which  human  life  was  never  abundantly  secure.  It  was 
rather  the  hardships  than  the  perils  of  the  undertaking  which  formed 
its  chief  objection  ;  but  these  Miss  Montaigne  resolved  cheerfully  to 
encounter,  when  once  assured  that  her  father  deemed  it  prudent, 
and  that  his  agents  were  fully  reliable. 

But  her  surprise  and  curiosity  were  not  a  little  excited  when  she 
was  informed  by  the  Huron  that  the  party  was  under  the  command 
of  one  Count  Carlton,  a  young  French  officer,  and  an  intimate  friend 
of  the  baron,  a  piece  of  intelligence  which  went  far  to  reconcile 
^lEmily  to  the  journey.  To  her  imagination,  which  no  remembrance 
of  past  events  could  wholly  correct,  it  began  to  assume  the  character 
of  a  romantic  enterprise,  in  which  nothing  was  wanting  to  increase 
its  attraction  but  the  certainty  of  being  pursued  by  a  party  of  those 
delightful  Mohawks,  all  of  whom  were  to  be  slain  by  their  gallant 
champion,  the  young  French  count.  The  name  fell  ominously  upon 
the  ear  of  Henrich,  who  already  pained  beyond  expression  at  the 
prospect  of  Blanche's  departure,  at  once  foresaw,  with   a  lover's 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  121 

instinct,  the  danger  which  threatened  most  to  his  happiness.  AHve, 
however,  to  every  incident,  he  did  not  fail  to  observe  that  the  Huron 
spoke  of  his  commanding  officer  with  a  scowl  that  seemed  to  indicate 
displeasure,  and  that  he  did  not  designate  him  as  a  Brave,  or  apply 
to  him  any  of  those  terms  by  which  the  savage  so  freely  expresses 
his  admiration  of  all  noble  qualities. 

The  count,  with  the  remainder  of  his  small  detachment,  of  whom 
four  were  French  soldiers,  and  the  other  an  Algonquin  Indian,  was 
encamped  in  the  forest  about  ten  miles  north  of  the  city,  where  a 
small  creek,  connecting  with  the  river,  afforded  a  safe  hiding-place 
for  his  boats.  The  Huron  had  left  the  encampment  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  preceding  day,  and  it  became  important  that  no 
further  delay  should  occur,  lest  Carlton  should  withdraw  his  men, 
and  abandon  the  expedition,  under  the  impression  that  his  messen- 
ger had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  Huron,  indeed, 
urged  that  they  should  depart  on  that  very  evening,  and  as  Miss 
Montaigne,  though  pale  with  emotion,  did  not  hesitate  to  assent,  the 
bustle  of  a  hurried  preparation  at  once  ensued,  and  before  it  was 
yet  sufficiently  dark  to  set  out,  the  ladies  were  both  in  readiness. 

Henrich,  whose  aid  was  of  course  volunteered  to  accompany 
them  to  the  camp,  had  in  the  meantime  procured  a  boat  and 
despatched  it  in  charge  of  a  slave  to  await  the  party  on  the  shore 
of  the  river,  a  little  north  of  the  city  wall,  but  there  was  at  the 
same  time  something  in  the  character  of  his  arrangements  which 
indicated  a  view  to  some  ulterior  purpose.  Miss  Montaigne,  who 
had  contemplated  with  dread  a  perilous  night-walk  through  the 
forest,  was  delighted  at  the  comparatively  easy  means  of  travel  which 
had  been  provided,  and  something  like  a  gleam  of  cheerfulness  began 
to  illumine  her  features,  as  the  moment  for  departure  approached. 
It  was  in  vain,  however,  that  she  sought  to  conceal  her  trepidation, 
and  she  seemed  to  seek  a  re-assurance  for  her  failing  courage  in  the 
language  and  bearing  of  Henrich.  He  would  have  rejoiced  at  the 
hghtest  intimation  from  Blanche,  that  his  services  would  be  accept- 

6 


122  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

able  as  one  of  her  guard  through  the  whole  of  her  anticipated  journey, 
and  only  dared  not  make  the  offer,  lest  its  refusal,  fouiKk-d  on  the 
suspicion  of  his  daring  love,  should  involve,  by  implication,  a  rejec- 
tion of  his  suit,  and  extinguish  tor  ever  the  flickering  hght  of  hope, 
which  served  now  at  least  harmlessly  to  irradiate  his  heart.  There 
was  something  in  the  romantic  character  of  his  attachment  which 
admitted  of  his  gathering  bliss  even  from  an  acknowledged  illusion, 
as  long  as  it  did  not  transcend  the  limits  of  possibility,  but  he  had 
not  courage  to  face  the  reality  of  a  present  and  certain  despair. 

"  We  look  to  you,  Mr.  Huntington,"  said  Miss  Montaigne,  "  to 
infuse  a  little  courage  into  us  before  we  part ;  confidence,  you  know, 
is  ever  inspired  by  example,  and  you  are  really  looking  as  if  you 
boded  evil." 

Accident  had  left  them  a  moment  alone,  and  Henrich  replied  with 
a  smile — "  You  must  allow  me  to  be  a  little  dismal  at  the  prospect  of 
losing  the  companionship  of  yourself  and  your  cousin  and  falling  back 
upon  the  Wappenos,  and  wolves  for  society.  Your  escort,  I  hope,  is 
safe  ;  it  is  doubtless  such  as  will  best  secure  secresy  and  celerity  of 
movement ;  yet  I  could  have  wished  it  somewhat  stronger." 

"  Do  you  think  there  is  much  danger  ?"  asked  Blanche,  quickly. 

"  With  vigilance,  prudence,  and  valor,  on  the  part  of  your  guard, 
no ;"  said  Henrich,  "  and  Ave  must  presume  they  have  been  selected 
for  qualities  like  these  ;  yet  I  would  that  you  felt  sufficienth-  insecure 
to  permit  of  my  offering  to  enrol  myself  among  your  defenders." 

Blanche  slightly  colored  as  she  replied,  "  We  are  already  laden 
with  obligations  to  you  that  we  cannot  requite,  and  although  I  can- 
not deny  that  it  would  add  greatly  to  my  sense  of  security " 

"  It  would !"  exclaimed  Henrich,  laughing ;  "  then  say  not 
another  word,  Miss  Montaigne  ;  it  is  a  charity  to  give  occupation  to 
an  idle  man,  and  I  have  really  nothing  else  in  the  world  to  do  :  I 
think,  too,  that  grandfather  Waldron  will  gladly  be  rid  of  me  for  a 
few  weeks." 

"  You  cannot  blind   me   thus,   Mr.   Huntington,"  said  Blanche, 


THE      KING      OF      THE      PURONS.  123 

"  to  the  magnitude  of  the  favor  which  you  offer,  nor  to  the  privations 
and  probable  peril  which  it  would  cost  you." 

"  The  school  of  danger  is  one  in  which  I  need  a  few  lessons," 
answered  Henrich,  gaily  ;  "  and  as  to  privations,"  he  continued, 
lowering  his  voice,  to  escape  the  ear  of  Miss  Koselle,  who  re-entered 
the  room  at  that  moment,  "  Miss  Montaigne's  permission  to  accom- 
pany her  w^ill  postpone  for  a  while  the  only  evil  of  that  nature 
which  has  any  terrors  for  me." 

Henrich  withdrew  from  the  apartment  as  he  concluded  speaking, 
and  proceeded  to  complete  his  preparations,  not  forgetting  to  pro- 
vide for  the  liquidation  of  his  debt  to  his  foi'est  friends,  the  payment 
of  which  involved  the  loss  of  his  favorite  rifle.  It  became  necessary 
to  procure  a  substitute  for  this  weapon,  and  he  was  fortunate  in 
obtaining  one  of  tried  worth,  which  had  acquired  a  wide  celebrity, 
even  in  less  skilful  hands  than  those  by  which  it  was  in  future  to  be 
wielded.  The  party  set  out  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
accompanied  by  a  few  slaves,  who  transported  to  the  boat  some 
light  but  necessary  stores,  and  brought  back  intelligence  to  Mynheer 
Waldron  and  his  household  that  the  travellers  were  safely  embarked. 
Leasing  them  to  pursue  their  nocturnal  voyage,  we  must  precede 
them  to  the  camp  of  Count  Carlton,  and  take  a  hasty  survey  of  its 
inmates  and  theh  condition. 


124  THE      KlifG      OF      THE      HURON  S, 


CHAPTER     XV. 

"What  the  d — 1  should  move  me  to  undertake  the  recovery  of  this  drum  ;  being  not 
ignorant  of  the  impussiliility,  and  knowing  I  had  no  such  purpose  1  I  must  give  myself 
some  hurts,  and  say  I  got  them  in  exploit." — ParoUes  in  "  ^IPs  Well  that  Ends  Well." 

Louis  Carlton  had  not  failed  in  making  good  liis  resolution  to 
visit  Castle  Montaigne,  on  the  in\atation  of  its  proprietor,  extended 
to  hiin,  as  has  been  seen,  when  the  baron  was  about  visiting  Europe. 
He  had  riot  seen  fit,  however,  to  wait  for  the  return  of  the  latter, 
beheving  that  if  delays  were  ordinarily  dangerous,  they  were  pecu- 
liarly so  in  the  prosecution  of  such  delicate  missions  as  that  on 
which  he  was  now  bound.  The  baron  was  rich  and  powerful  and 
had  an  only  daughter  at  home,  whom  he  had  fairly  offered  to  the 
count — such,  at  least,  was  Carlton's  understanding  of  the  affair,  and 
Governor  Vaudreuil  might  laugh  his  fill  at  the  idea  of  his  nephew 
wedding  a  maiden  upon  whose  escutcheon  a  bow  and  arrow  might 
properly  be  emblazoned ;  yet  if  the  heiress  was  at  all  attractive  in 
person,  he  had  resolved  not  to  be  driven  by  ridicule  fi'om  his  design. 
In  the  salons  of  Paris,  the  descendant  of  a  Huron  prince  might 
expect  rather  to  derive  a  lustre  from  her  ancestry  than  to  find  it  a 
subject  of  reproach ;  and  with  Wealth  and  Beauty  for  auxiliaries, 
and  the  advantage  of  the  count's  reputation,  which,  although  a 
little  shattered,  was  still  potent  in  his  own  estimation,  he  did  not 
doubt  she  would  win  the  ^clat  of  the  fashionable  world.  All  his 
fears  had  been  that  Myrtle  would  prove  to  partake  too  strongly  of 
the  Indian  characteristics  of  countenance  and  demeanor  ;  but  on 
these  points  he  was  destined  to  be  most  agreeably  disappointed. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  125 

He  was  welcomed  at  the  castle,  where  he  introduced  himself  as  a 
fi'ieiid  of  the  baron,  and  soon  attained  a  degree  of  no  little  intimacy 
with  its  inmates.  His  gay  and  pleasing  manners  were  attractive  to 
Myrtle,  and  even  won  many  a  smile  of  approval  from  the  reserved 
and  diffident  baroness,  while  both  were  astonished  to  receive  so 
many  marks  of  attention  and  kindness  from  a  sti-anger  of  distin- 
guished appearance.  He  became  the  companion  of  the  daughter  in 
her  rambles  and  sports,  and  put  his  invention  to  task  in  devising 
new  varieties  of  pastime  for  her  anmsement ;  and  instead  of  finding, 
as  he  had  feared,  only  the  glimmerings  of  beauty  and  grace  in  her 
person,  he  was  continually  compelled  to  accord  to  her  unstudied 
charms  the  tribute  of  admiration. 

The  baroness,  little  accustomed  to  deference,  beheld  his  courtesy 
towards  herself  with  ill-disguised  astonishment ;  but  his  ajtparent 
kindness  to  her  child  entirely  won  the  heart  of  the  Huron  mother. 
Myrtle  knew  not  how  to  understand  the  addresses  of  the  stranger ; 
but  artless  and  truthful  herself,  she  could  think  no  ill  of  a  man  whose 
whole  endeavor  seemed  to  be  to  contribute  to  her  enjoyment. 

Affairs  at  the  castle  were  in  this  position,  when  the  baron 
returned,  not  a  little  pleased  to  believe  that  Carlton's  eagerness 
to  meet  Miss  Montaigne  had  induced  him  to  anticipate  her  arrival 
by  his  visit.  He  hastened,  therefore,  to  explain  to  his  guest  the 
accident  which  had  separated  ^himself  and  his  daughter,  and  which 
had  left  the  latter  almost  a  prisoner  in  New  York,  while  the  very 
extremity  of  the  count's  amazement  alone  prevented  him  from 
betraying  his  own  extraordinary  mistake.  That  there  was  another 
daughter  of  Montaigne,  exclusively  of  European  origin,  was  a  feet, 
which  now  for  the  first  time  became  known  to  him  ;  and  he  shud- 
dered to  think  how  nearly  he  had  committed  himself  to  the  forest 
maiden,  while  the  favored  child  and  prospective  heiress,  a  lady  of 
unsullied  birth,  of  rank,  education,  and  perhaps  even  beauty,  had 
been  indirectly  offered  to  his  alliance. 

No  time  was  to  be  lost  in  rectifying  so  gross   an  error  ;  nor  did 


126  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

he  feel  the  lightest  scruple  at  deserting  Myrtle,  by  reason  of  any 
consequences  which  might  ensue  to  her.  If  he  had  won  her  heart, 
which  the  quick  discernment  of  vanity  plainly  perceived,  it  had  been 
with  no  open  profession  of  attachment ;  and  he  knew  too  well  the 
humility  of  the  mother,  and  the  timid  modesty  of  the  daughter,  as 
well  as  their  ignorance  of  the  conventional  usages  of  civilized  life,  to 
fear  that  they  would  ever  make  his  conduct  the  subject  of  com- 
plaint or  reproach.  He  became  elated  with  his  new  anticipations  ; 
and  as  he  contemplated  in  perspective  tlie  sunny  path  of  prosperity 
which  seemed  to  stretch  far  away  in  the  future,  he  forgot  his  past 
reverses,  and  gained  an  augmented  sense  of  his  own  importance. 

But  it  was  with  little  pleasure  he  reflected  that  before  Miss  Mon- 
taigne could  be  converted  into  a  bride  she  was  to  be  rescued  from 
captivity  ;  and  while  he  waited  to  learn  the  baron's  plans  for  effect- 
ing this  object,  the  latter  remained  in  daily  expectation  of  an  offer 
from  his  guest  to  engage  personally  in  the  enterprise.  Carlton 
was  a  soldier  only  in  name  ;  he  had  seen  no  service,  yet  he  had  not 
failed  to  make  his  martial  reputation  indirectly  the  subject  of  boast 
befoi'e  the  baron,  in  whose  estimation  he  knew  that  military  talents 
transcended  every  other  quality.  Of  Indian  waifare  he  had  an 
exceeding  dread,  and  while  affecting  a  soldier's  contempt  for  every 
danger,  he  could  not  divest  his  mind  of  the  terror  inspired  by  the 
contemplation  of  ambuscades,  bush  fights,  and  midnight  onsets 
accompanied  by  the  usual  accessaries  of  savage  war.  He  was  in 
short  a  coward,  with  a  coward's  usual  bravado,  but  he  soon  found 
that  there  was  no  middle  course  of  action  to  pursue  if  he  would 
retain  for  a  moment  the  confidence  of  Montaigne. 

The  baron  disclosed  to  him  his  plan  for  the  rescue  of  his  daughter, 
and  the  very  flashing  of  his  eye  told  the  alarmed  count  that  he 
expected  him  not  only  to  take  command  of  the  expedition,  but  to 
acce|)t  the  post  as  a  most  distinguished  favor.  Hesitation  would 
have  been  as  disgraceful  as  refusal,  and  Cailton,  pi-actised  in  dissimu- 
lation, promptly  begged  the  command  with  every   apj^earance  of 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HUKONS.  127 

earnestness,  trusting  to  expedients  for  still  escaping  the  danger,  if 
before  the  time  for  setting  out  he  should  not  become  satisfied  that 
it  was  really  trivial. 

Several  weeks  elapsed  before  the  baron  deemed  it  prudent  for  the 
party  to  start,  and  during  this  interval,  Carlton  took  every  op[)ortu- 
nity,  by  indirect  means,  to  gain  a  knowledge  of  the  extent  of  the 
perils  to  be  encountered,  resolving  if  they  proved  too  alarming,  to 
avoid  them  by  summoning  himself  suddenly  back  to  Quebec  or  even 
to  Paris,  if  necessary,  on  business  of  the  last  impoi'tance.  As  such  a 
course,  however,  would  be  open  to  suspicion,  and  would  doubtless 
terminate  his  prosj^ects  of  winning  the  hand  of  the  heiress,  it  was 
only  to  be  resorted  to  in  extremity,  while,  if  the  risk  was  but  light, 
he  resolved  to  face  it  for  the  sake  of  the  prize  in  view,  which  he 
thought  would  be  made  doubly  sure  to  him  by  his  seeming  ^'alor. 
The  Lynx,  with  whom  his  opportunity  to  converse  was  not  infrequent, 
and  who  was  to  occupy  a  command  second  to  himself  in  the  party, 
spoke  with  unfeigned  contempt  of  the  danger,  and  the  soldiers,  who 
were  detailed  for  this  daty,  not  lacking  the  spirit  of  gasconade  inci- 
dent, at  that  4^y5  to  their  jDrofession,  were  equally  boastful  of  the 
safety  with  which  their  object  was  to  be  accomplished. 

The  ultimate  choice  of  the  count  has  been  seen,  but  the  de'uiils  of 
his  ill-disguised  pusillanimity,  during  the  descent  to  New  York,  as 
they  are  not  directly  connected  with  the  narrative,  n(^ed  not  be 
described.  It  was  sufficient  to  win  for  him  the  scorn  of  the  Huron 
chief,  but  the  spirit  of  discipline,  which  had  been  sedulously  incul- 
cated by  Montaigne  among  his  Indian  allies,  had  induced  the  former 
not  only  to  forbear  comment  u}»on  the  conduct  of  his  su]  ei'ior,  l>ut  to 
yield  to  him  such  a  ready  obedience  as  the  count  imngiiird  could 
only  proceed  from  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  own  judgment  and 
military  skill.  His  movements  liad,  notwithstanding,  been  silently 
influenced  to  a  great  extent  by  the  Lynx,  -iiid  it  was  owing  to  tins 
circumstance  that  he  had  succeeded  in  reaching  the  island  of  Man- 


128  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

hattan  in  safety,  although,  of  course,  with  woiulerfully  augmented 
views  of  his  own  prowess  and  wisdom. 

Whatever  Count  Carhon  was  in  conceit  and  vanity  at  Castle  Mon- 
taigne, that  he  was  in  a  quadrupled  degree  in  his  little  cavernous 
camp  on  the  bank  of  the  Hudson,  where  he  became  impatient  of  no 
inconvenience  more  than  of  the  deprivation  of  a  fitting  auditory  for 
the  story  of  his  achievements.  Yet  the  prolonged  absence  of  the 
Huron  gradually  awakened  his  alarm,  and  when  the  shades  of  the 
second  evening  were  setting  in  witliout  the  return  of  the  messenger, 
his  apprehensions  became  extreme.  If  the  Lynx  was  a  prisoner,  not 
only  was  his  whole  design  frustrated,  but  his  own  position  could  not 
long  be  safe,  for  however  incapable  the  Indian  might  be  of  betraying 
his  friends,  the  letter  which  he  carried  would  reveal  the  fact  that  he 
had  coadjutors  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city. 

But  he  would  not  entertain  so  unwelcome  a  belief,  and  having 
sought  counsel  of  no  one,  he  little  dreamed  how  great  was  the  pro- 
bability of  such  an  event  having  occurred.  He  stood  looking 
gloomily  from  his  sheltered  retreat  upon  the  adjacent  river,  and  the 
Algonquin,  with  quick  watchful  eye,  loitered  at  his  side,  evidently 
courting  some  encouragement  to  speak,  when  Carlton,  forgetting  his 
self-sufficiency  in  his  uneasiness,   addressed  him  with  seeming  care- 


"  The  Lynx  is  slow  of  foot,"  he  said,  "  or  he  has  lost  his  way  ; 
what  think  you,  Anak  ?" 

"  The  Lynx  is  a  prisoner,"  replied  the  Indian,  calmly. 

"  A  prisoner  !"  responded  the  count,  now  thoroughly  alarmed ; 
"  how  can  you  know  this  ?  surely  you  do  but  guess — the  Huron 
would  not  easily  be  taken." 

"  The  sun  has  twice  gone  down  since  our  brother  left  the  camp," 
the  Algonquin  answered,  pointing  to  the  west ;  "  he  is  swift  as  the 
roe,  the  })ath  of  the  bee  is  not  straighter  than  his — yet  he  comes 
not  back." 

"  But  he  waits  for  the  ladies,  Anak  ;  they  are  not  ready." 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S.  129 

"  Is  there  no  night  in  the  Enghsh  city  ?  does  not  the  wind  come 
and  go  ?  why  has  his  voice  not  been  heard  among  us  to  say  that  all 
is  well  ?     The  Lynx  has  been  taken — yesterday — I  have  said." 

Cai-lton  turned  pale  at  this  confident  assertion,  which  his  opinion 
of  Indian  sagacity  would  not  permit  him  to  disregard.  With  child- 
ish eagerness  he  tui-ned  to  the  soldiers,  hoping  to  find  something 
in  their  suo-o-estions  which  would  weaken  the  force  of  the  other's 
suspicions,  but  in  this  he  was  disappointed. 

"  If  Anak,  there,  says  the  Lynx  is  caught,"  answered  the  most 
voluble  of  the  party,  a  tall,  stout  man,  whose  good-natured  face 
was  seamed  with  long  wound-like  traces  of  the  small-pox — "  if  Anak 
says  he  is  caught,  then  good  bye  to  the  Lynx,  sir  ;  I've  known  that 
Algonquin  five  years,  have  fought  by  his  side  in  twenty  battles  with 
the  Iroquois,  have  hunted  with  him,  eaten  with  him,  slept  with  him, 
and  never  knew  him  out  of  his  reckoning,  but  once,  sir  ;  he  talks 
but  little,  and  gives  fewer  opinions,  perhaps,  than  a  lawyer,  but  when 
he  does  speak,  it  is  to  the  point." 

"  And  do  you  yourself  think  it  probable  that  the  Huron  is  a 
prisoner?"  asked  the  count. 

"  I  do,  if  it  please  your  honor,"  rephed  the  soldier, — "  the  city  is 
close  at  hand,  and  the  Lynx,  if  at  liberty,  would  not  have  allowed  a 
night  to  pass  without  returning  to  camp,  succtssful  or  otherwise — 
besides,  sir,  there  is  a  sort  of  freemasonry  among  these  savages,  and 

the  Algonquin  there " 

"  I  know  his  views  sufficiently  already,"  said  Carlton,  nervously, 
and  turning  to  his  other  followers,  he  proceeded  to  canvass  their  sen- 
timents on  the  subject  with  an  earnestness  quite  disproportionate  to 
the  value  of  the  counsel  received,  for  being  entirely  unused  to  such 
an  honor,  they  were  chiefly  solicitous  how  to  acquit  themselves  in 
sp- 


eaking,  and  did  not  dare  to  dissent  from  the  opinions  already 


delivered. 

Carlton's  grief  at  the  failure   of  his  expedition  would  have  been 
extreme  had  it  not  been  merged  in  alarm  for  his  personal  safety.     If 

6* 


130  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

the  riui'on  was  a  ]>ris(jner,  as  he  now  no  longer  doubted,  the  baron's 
letter,  he  thouglit,  was  doubtless  m  the  hands  of  the  Enghsh  govern- 
ment, and  a  detachment  must  be  already  on  then-  way  from  the  city 
in  pursuit  of  himself  and  his  party.  So  great  was  his  trepidation 
that  he  even  fancied,  momentarily,  as  the  wind  came  sighing  through 
the  forests,  that  he  heard  the  rustling  of  an  armed  body,  approach- 
ing his  quarters.  Dissembling  his  fears  as  best  he  could,  he 
announced  with  much  gravity  to  his  men  that  their  views  of  the 
fate  of  the  Huron  were  entirely  accordant  with  his  own,  but  that  he 
had  seen  lit  to  consult  them,  instead  of  acting  exclusively  upon  his 
own  convictions  in  a  matter  of  so  much  moment,  and  concluded  by 
giving  orders  to  get  ready  the  boats  for  immediate  departure. 

Altliough  accustomed  to  implicit  obedience,  the  soldiers  exchanged 
looks  of  surprise  for  a  moment,  at  this  mandate.  Tlieir  position  was 
so  secure,  and  the  prospect  of  any  immediate  attack  so  improbable, 
that  they  could  not  understand  the  motives  which  prompted  flight, 
and  the  desertion  of  an  ally,  who  might  possibly  yet  return.  Francis, 
venturing  to  speak,  with  many  apologies,  and  much  circumlocution, 
disclaimed  intending  to  advise  a  departure,  and  the  Indian, 
emboldened  by  his  example,  oftered  to  go  in  pui'suit  of  his  com- 
panion ;  but  Carlton,  thoroughly  panic-stricken,  refused  to  listen  to 
any  proposition.  The  boats  were  prepared,  and  the  i)arty  embarked 
at  about  ten  in  the  evening,  little  imagining  that  their  collea^'ue, 
completely  successful  in  his  quest,  was  at  that  moment  less  than  tw^o 
leagues  distant  from  them  and  rapidly  approaching. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  131 


* 


CHAPTER     XVI. 

"Tis  the  middle  watch  of  a  summer's  night— 
The  earth  is  dark,  but  the  heavens  are  bright ; 
Nought  is  seen  in  the  vault  on  high, 
But  the  moon,  and  the  stars,  and  the  cloudless  sky, 
And  the  flood  which  rolls  its  milky  hue 
A  river  oflight  on  the  welkin  blue:'— Drake's  Culprit  Fay. 

With  the  low  monotonous  sound  of  dipping  oars,  and  of  the 
trickhng  uf  water  from  their  blades,  did  the  boat  of  Henrich,  under  the 
skilful  guidance  of  the  Huron,  glide  rapidly  along  the  stream,  keeping 
close  under  the  eastern  shore,  where  the  shadows  of  the  forest  with- 
held even  the  faint  starlight  from  its  path.      The  village  of  the 
Wappenos  in  which  the  Lynx  had  so  nearly  terminated  his  career, 
was  situated  near  the  river,  a  few  miles  south   of  the  count's  covert 
quarters,  and  it  became  necessary  for  the  voyagers  on  approaching 
it,  to  diverge  at  a  wide  angle  from  their  course  to  avoid  discovery. 
Not  that  Henrich  entertained  any  fear  of  hostihty  from  his  allies 
tow  aids  himself,  or  his  present  party,  but  he  felt  that  he  could  not 
answer  for  their  pacilic  conduct  towards  Carlton's  command,  if  he 
should  be  unlucky  enough  to  draw  them  upon  the  camp.     There 
was  danger,  too,  if  the  singular  departure  of  Henrich  and  his  com- 
panions became  known  to  the  Wappenos,  that  some  gossipping  or 
treacherous  member  of  the  tribe  might  divulge  it  in  the  city,  and 
bring  pursuit  upon  thvun  from  that  (piaiter,  before  they  had  attained 
a  distance,  winch  would  render  it  harmless.     It  was  an  easy  matter 
to  gain  the  centre  of  tho  stream,  and  thus  defy  discovery  from  the 
shore,  and  for  a  while,  they  had  pursued  their  new  coui'se  with  a 


132  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

confidence  whicli  relaxed  the  rules  of  vigilance,    when    the  Lynx 
suddenly  ceased  rowing,  and  assumed  a  listening  attitude.. 

"  It  is  an  echo,"  said  Henrich,  as  the  sound  of  dipping  oars 
reached  them  for  a  moment,  and  then  suddenly  ceased  ;  "  we  are 
nearer  to  the  western  shore  than  I  had  supposed." 

"  It  is  a  boat,"  answered  the  Huron,  pointing  to  the  southwest, 
where,  at  the  distance  of  about  a  hundred  yards,  the  outline  of  a 
canoe  could  be  faintly  seen  on  the  water  ;  "  it  is  a  boat,  rowed  by 
two  Iroquois" — and  the  Indian,  giving  more  of  a  shoreward  direc- 
tion to  his  skiff,  resumed  his  progi'oss,  with  a  slightly  increased 
velocity,  yet  avoiding  the  appearance  of  flight. 

"  Our  friend  must  j^ossess  even  more  than  the  lynx's  power  of 
vision,"  said  Blanche,  addressing"  Huntington  in  a  low  voice,  and 
dissembling  her  fears,  "  if  he  can  discern  the  occupants  of  that  boat ; 
I  have  been  called  quick -sighted,  and  can  scarcely  see  the  shape  of 
the  vessel  itself" 

"  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  Indian  sees  no  more,"  replied 
Henrich ;  "  but  these  wild  foresters  are  trained  to  the  active  use  of 
all  their  feculties  ;  some  irregularity  in  the  fall  of  the  oars  has  told 
him  the  canoe  was  not  pro})elled  by  a  single  person,  and  it  scarcely 
requires  even  Indian  sagacity  to  detect  the  difference  between  the 
rowing  of  a  white  man  and  a  savage." 

"  You  are  at  least  ingenious  in  compreliending  him,"  answered 
Blanche ;  "  but  did  he  not  even  designate  the  tribe  to  which  the 
strangers  belonged  ?" 

"  Iroquois  is  a  generic  name  for  the  whole  confederacy  of  the 
Five  Nations,"  said  Henrich ;  "  and  there  is  little  likelihood  of 
finding  Indians  in  this  region  who  do  not  belong  to  one  or  another 
of  its  subdivisions  ;  the  word,  in  the  mouth  of  the  Huron,  may 
almost  be  considered  synonymous  with  enemv." 

The  party  had  not  proceed m:1  far,  b'fort^  it  became  evid(Mit  that 
they  were  followed  by  the  strangers,  though  in  a  manner  that  rather 
indicated  a  desire  to  watch  their  movements  than  to  commit  any 


THE      KING      or      THE      HURONS.  133 

immediate  airgression ;  the  pursuers  maintaining  a  nearly  uniform 
distance  from  the  skitF,  which  the  Lynx  found  it  ditficult  either  to 
increase  or  materially  diminish.  The  very  pauses  of  his  boat  were 
promptly  imitated  by  the  other,  as  if  it  were  but  some  distant 
shadow  of  its  predecessor,  thrown  back  upon  the  wave. 

This  was  an  espionage  not  patiently  to  be  endured,  and,  after  a 
few  moments'  consultation  with  Henrich,  the  Lynx  again  changed 
his  course,  and  rowed  ra[)idly  towards  the  shore,  hoping,  in  the 
obscurity  of  its  deeper  shadows,  to  elude  further  pursuit.  But  the 
phantom  canoe  was  still  in  their  wake,  with  a  celerity  equal  to  their 
own,  and  a  silence  that  gave  an  air  of  singular  mystery  to  its  move- 
ments. Henrich  began  to  suspect  that  he  was  followed  from  the 
city  by  some  one  authorized  to  require  the  return  of  Miss  Montaigne 
and  her  cousin,  and  that  an  Indian  canoe,  with  its  oarsmen,  had 
been  employed  to  ascertain  his  route,  and  to  pilot  a  more  formi- 
dable foe  upon  his  track  ;  but  whatever  was  the  character  of  the 
enemy,  he  did  not  exhibit  a  ready  tact  in  detecting  the  designs  of 
the  fugitives,  who  were  permitted  to  enter  the  shadows  at  a  distance 
from  the  former,  that  at  once  buried  them  from  sight. 

The  Lynx  did  not  tail  to  take  advantage  of  this  error,  by  chang- 
ing his  course  and  increasing  his  speed,  but  still  maintaining  a 
northerly  direction,  enjoining  meanwhile  the  strictest  silence  upon 
his  companions,  and  handling  his  oars  with  a  delicacy  of  motion  that 
seemed  scarcely  to  create  a  sound.  The  skift'  shot  ahead  beside  the 
high  bank,  and  beneath  the  overhanging  boughs,  as  nearly  noise- 
less and  invisible  as  anything  of  material  mould  could  be ;  and  the 
closest  attention  could  no  longer  detect  any  signs  of  pursuit.  Half 
an  hour  of  silent  progress  brought  it  to  the  mouth  of  a  small  creek, 
which,  after  a  little  examination,  the  Lynx  pronounced  to  be  the 
one  leading  to  the  secret  camp ;  and  as  the  little  bark  glid<^d  into  the 
opening,  embowered  with  interlacing  trees  from  the  opposing  shores, 
the  whole  party  experienced  a  sense  of  relief. 

"  We  have  probably  had  a  very  useless   alarm,  after  all,"   said 


134 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S, 


Henrich,  glad  to  dismiss  his  former  suspicions ;  "  our  followers  were 
doubtless  only  some  belated  hunters  of  the  Wapi)enos,  returnino-  to 
their  village,  and  attracted  by  curiosity  out  of  their  course." 

"I  shall  be  glad  if  it  proves  to  be  nothing  worse,"  replied 
Blanche,  not  altogether  at  ease,  yet  striving  to  maintain  the  a})p('ai'- 
ance  of  equanimity;  "but  you  attribute  a  propensity  to  the  red 
men,  from  which  they  are  usually  considered  exempt." 

"I  know,"  answered  Henrich,  "that  the  absence  of  curiosity 
forms  part  of  the  poetical  character  of  the  Indian,  yet  I  have  ever 
found  them  a  meddling,  gossipping  race :  on  state  occasions,  indeed, 
it  is  different ;  then,  they  put  on  their  dignity,  like  a  cloak,  and  like 
some  counting-house  Christians  on  Sunday,  assume  all  their  cardinal 
virtues  for  the  occasion." 

"Which,  like  Sunday  clothes,  seem  all  the  fresher  for  being 
seldom  worn,  I  suppose,"  said  Blanche,  laughing ;  "  you  are  severe 
upon  your  forest  fi'iends." 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  Huntington  ;  "  they  have  many  noble 
qualities,  to  which  you  will  always  find  me  ready  to  do  justice  ;  but 
the  want  of  inquisitiveness  is  not  one  of  them  :  is  it  not  so,  sachem  ?" 
he  continued,  addressing  the  Huron — "  I  speak  of  the  Iroquois,  of 
course." 

"  The  Iroquois  are  dogs,"  answered  the  Lynx,  giving  but  a 
moment's  heed  to  the  question,  and  immediately  returning  to  a 
close  scrutiny  of  the  shore  past  which  they  were  gliding ;  at 
the  next  instant  he  uttered  an  ejaculation  of  pleasure,  as  his  eye 
rested  upon  some  rememboi-ed  landmark,  and  running  the  skiff  into 
a  little  nook,  he  leaped  lightly  u]3on  the  land,  where  he  was  at  once 
followed  by  his  companions.  A  hill  of  no  great  height,  but  nearly 
perpendicular,  rose  from  the  beach,  and  a  slight  indentation  at  its 
base,  the  entrance  of  which  was  thickly  studded  with  bushes,  had 
formed  at  once  a  refuge  fur  Carlton's  httle  band,  and  a  j»]ace  of 
concealment  for  their  boats.       Into   this  recess   the   Lynx  hiistily 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  135 

darted,   and  after  a   few  minutes'   absence,  re-appeared  with  tlie 
startling-  announcement  that  it  was  vacant. 

"  The  count  has  heard  the  foxes  bark,"  he  said,  unable  wholly  to 
repress  his  contempt ;  "  or  the  drumming  bird  has  come  too  near  ; 
he  has  gone,  and  brave  men  have  gone  with  him — it  is  bad  !" 

The  emotions  with  which  this  inteUigence  was  received  were 
various  and  conflicting.  The  prospect  of  being  compelled  to 
abandon  their  voyage  and  return  to  New  York,  was  at  first  not 
unwelcome  to  the  ladies,  whose  courage  was  already  well  nigh 
expended ;  but  the  reflection  that  the  journey  would  thus  be  only 
postponed,  and  not  avoided,  and  the  memory  of  her  recent  perils  in 
the  city,  combined  to  give  preponderance  to  a  feeling  of  regret  in 
the  mind  of  Blanche.  Some  jealousy  for  the  honor  of  her  father's 
messeno-er  mino-led  with  these  thouo-hts,  and  she  at  once  suggested 
that  Carlton  might  only  have  changed  his  quarters  to  some  more 
convenient  or  safe  location  in  the  vicinity,  or  that  he  had  been 
surprised  and  overpowered  by  an  enemy. 

"These  are  possibihties,  certainly,"  answered  Henrich ;  "and 
only  daylight,  which  is  yet  three  hours  distant,  can  reveal  whether 
they  are  probable  :  it  is  useless  to  search  by  this  light,  and  danger- 
ous to  make  signals ;  but  if  you  are  able  to  pass  the  remainder  of 
the  night  here " 

"  It  is  at  least  as  easy  as  to  return,"  Blanche  rephed ;  "  we  should 
be  ill  fitted  for  our  journey  if  we  shrunk  from  so  slight  an  inconve- 
nience ;  a  warm  night  in  the  open  air  is  no  great  hardship,  and  yet 
I  could  wish,  for  the  very  romance  of  the  thing,  that  we  had  the 
tents  and  hammocks,  which  the  Lynx  assures  me  were  brought  for 

our  use." 

"  We  will  try  what  can  be  done  by  way  of  a  substitute,"  said 
Henrich,  gaily ;  "  you  have  your  cloaks,  and  you  shall  see  that  a 
forest  couch  can  easily  be  rigged  by  hands  that  are  used  to  expe- 
dients :  as  for  the  Lynx  and  myself,  we  shall  have  the  honor  of 
being  your  sentinels." 


136  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

So  saying,  he  signified  his  wishes  to  the  Huron,  and  the  two, 
raising  the  skiff  from  the  water,  transferred  it  within  the  cavernous 
recess  which  has  been  described,  where  a  quantity  of  hght  boughs 
of  pine  and  hemlock,  carefully  adjusted  within  it,  constituted  a  bed 
at  once  soft  and  elastic.  The  cloak  of  the  young  man  was  thrown 
over  the  whole,  and  Blanche  and  Emily  proceeded  to  examine  their 
novel  resting-place  ;  the  latter  protesting,  in  a  doleful  tone,  that  it 
was  altogether  delightful,  but  that  she  was  sure  she  "  could  not  sleep 
a  wink  with  that  horrid  screech-owl  yelling  from  a  neighboring 
tree-top." 

"  It  sounds  exactly  hke  what  I  fancy  an  Indian  war-cry  to  be," 
she  said,  "  although  I  dare  say  it  is  very  different,  and  I'm  sure  I 
don't  wonder  if  your  count  what's-his-name  was  afraid  to  stay  here ; 
there — there,  only  listen,"  she  continued,  putting  her  hands  to  her 
ears,  and  looking  upwards,  as  the  shrill  unearthly  sounds  rang 
through  the  air — "  don't  you  think  he  could  be  induced  to  go 
away  ?" 

"  I  fear  not,"  answered  Henrich,  unable  to  repress  a  smile  at  the 
words  and  manner  of  the  speaker,  "  we  dare  neither  shoot  nor  shout 
at  him,  and  he  is  far  above  the  reach  of  any  missile  sent  from  the 
hand  ;  try  to  consider  him  only  a  serenader  ;  he  is,  I  assure  you,  a 
very  small  and  harmless  bird, — less  than  a  robin,  and  answers 
better  to  the  term  vox  et  prctiterca  nihil^  than  anything  else 
in  nature." 

"  I  hope  he  will  answer  to  nothing  here,"  said  Blanche  ;  "  I  am 
sure  I  shall  ask  him  no  questions — I  shall  grow  dreadfully  nervous 
myself,  since  Emily  has  reminded  me  of  it ;  is  it  probable  that  he 
will  remain  there  long  ?" 

"  Until  morning,  undoubtedly,"  Henrich  replied,  "when  he  will  go 
to  sleep — there — there,  that's  an  extra  note,  indeed  ;  what  say  you, 
Sachem,  is  there  any  way  of  getting  rid  of  this  bird-fiend  ?" 

The  Indian  uttered  a  low  laugh,  and  raising  his  hands  to  his  mouth, 
emitted  a  succession  of  quick  shrill  sounds  in  imitation  of  a  night- 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  137 

hawk,  "\^Licll  now  in  one  quarter,  and  now  in  another,  seemed  to  be 
hovering  over  the  trees.  A  qniek  redonbkd  scream  of  the  owl, 
striking  the  ear  AAith  painful  acuteness,  and  then  growing  fainter 
until  it  died  away  in  the  distance,  attested  the  faithfulness  of  the 
mimicry,  and  showed  that  the  enemy  was  effectually  dislodged. 

"  That  was  well  done,  my  brother  !"  said  Heniieh,  much  ])leased, 
though  less  surprised  than  the  ladies  at  the  expedient, — "  you  must 
teach  me  that  note,  some  time  ;  good  bye  to  Mr.  Vox  ;  he  has  pressing 
business  in  some  other  quarter — and  now,  ladies,  you  perceive  the 
Lynx  has  taken  his  station  for  the  night,  beneath  that  elm  tree  ; 
mine  is  at  the  foot  of  this  oak,  where  his  Huron  highness  gives  me 
permission  to  sleep  ;  you  must  take  our  bearings,  as  a  sailor  would 
say,  from  your  cot,  and  you'll  know  where  to  find  us,  if  you  should 
be  frightened  in  the  night." 

"  We  will  endeavor  not  to  disturb  the  slumbers  of  so  vigilant 
a  sentinel  as  you  are  like  to  prove,"  replied  Blanche — "  but  here, 
Emily,  give  Sachem  the  second  his  blanket ;  he  will  certainly 
need  it  on  the  ground,  moie  than  we  in  the  boat,  where  w^e  have 
our  own  cloaks  and  shawls." 

The  reasonableness  of  this  assertion  was  too  apparent  to  admit  of 
contest,  and  Henrich,  receiving  his  cloak,  quietly  disposed  himself 
to  sleep,  while  the  ladies,  laughing  not  a  little  at  their  various 
ineffectual  attempts  to  gain  a  comfortable  reclining  position,  finally 
triumphed  over  all  difficulties,  and  followed  his  example.  One  pair 
of  restless  eyes  alone  remained  open  through  the  remaining  hours  of 
the  night,  revolving  in  every  direction  from  which  an  enemy  could 
possibly  approach,  with  a  vigilance  that  betokened  the  consciousness 
of  an  important  trust,  and  which  was,  perhaps,  increased  by  the 
unforgotten  horrors  of  the  gantlet  and  the  stake. 


138  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS, 


CHAPTER     XVII. 


The  meek-eyed  morn  appears,  mother  of  dews, 

At  first  faint  glimmering  in  the  duppled  east ; 

Till  far  o'er  ether  spreads  the  wid'ning  glow, 

And  from  before  the  lustre  of  her  foce, 

White  break  the  clouds  away." — Thomson's  Seasons. 


Day  had  fully  dawned,  and  some  crimson-tinted  clouds  were  even 
announcing  that  the  sun  was  not  far  below  the  horizon,  when 
Henrich,  awaking  from  sleep,  bounded  suddenly  to  his  feet,  alarmed 
at  the  very  profoundness  of  his  repose,  and  at  the  conjectured  evils 
which  might  have  occurred  during  its  continuance.  His  first  glance 
was  at  the  boat,  where  the  closely  enveloped  figures  of  the  ladies 
were  quietly  reposing,  and  his  next  at  the  sentinel  who  remained 
motionless  at  his  post,  with  no  signs  of  w^eariness  or  impatience. 

"  Your  w^atch  has  been  undisturbed  ?"  he  said,  hastily  a])})roacli- 
ing  the  Huron,  "  and  you  have  discovered  no  traces  of  the  count 
and  his  party  ;  is  it  so  ?" 

It  was  with  a  look  almost  of  affection  that  the  Indian's  eyes 
encountered  those  of  his  young  friend  and  deliverer,  and  for  a 
moment  he  seemed  dwelling  in  memory  U]»on  the  events  of  the 
preceding  day  : 

"  There  has  been  no  harm,"  he  said  ;  "  a  wolf  howled  from  the 
hill,"  pointing  to  a  projection  of  th.e  bank  near  the  sleepers — "  and 
a  wild-cat  leaped  over  the  boat,  but  I  clapped  my  hands,  and  they 
ran  away." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?"  exclaimed  Henrich,  glancing  at  the  ladies,  "  that 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  139 

they  have  been  exposed  to  perils  like  these  ?  they  must  not  know 
it,  or  they  will  even  yet  die  of  terror.  But  the  count, — learn  you 
aught  of  him  ?" 

"  He  has  gone  home,"  rephed  the  Huron,  bitterly,  pointing  at  the 
same  time  to  a  tree  at  a  little  distance  from  where  they  stood  ;  "  see, 
the  Algonquin  has  said  it  ;  my  white  brother  can  read  !'' 

Henrich  was  not  usually  disposed  to  doubt  his  scholarship  in  the 
particular  named,  but  he  found  himself  not  a  httle  puzzled  on 
approaching  the  tree,  to  construe  the  simple  tokens  it  contained,  nor 
was  it  without  the  aid  of  the  Lynx  that  he  fully  comprehended 
them. 

"  Here  is  an  arrow  fixed  in  the  bark,  pointing  to  the  north,"  he 
said, — "  that  is  plain  enough  ;  somebody  has  gone  in  that  direction ; 
stay,  here  are  six  notches  on  it,  one  considerably  in  advance  of  the 
others  ;  that  I  suppose  means  that  the  whole  party  have  gone,  con- 
sisting of  five  men  and  their  leader ;  but  why  does  the  arrow  point 
upward  as  well  as  northward  ?"  he  said,  addressing  the  Huron  ; 
"  they  certainly  have  not  gone  through  the  air." 

"  They  have  gone  a  great  way,"  answered  the  Lynx. 

"  Ah,  yes,  I  am  dull — that  signifies  a  distant  destination  very 
plainly,"  Henrich  replied,  or  rather  muttered  to  himself;  "and  it  is 
partly  broken  here  in  the  middle,  I  suppose,  to  show  that  the  object 
of  the  expedition  is  defeated  or  abandoned  ?" 

"  Right,"  said  the  Huron ;  "  my  brother  can  read  the  language 
of  the  red  men :  does  he  see  anything  more  ?" 

"  The  tree  is  blazed  a  little  here  on  the  north  side  with  a  hatchet," 
replied  Huntington,  "  and  there  are  a  few  rude  marks,  but  I  can 
make  nothing  of  them  :  here  is  a  new  moon  down  in  one  corner ; 
and  there  is  something  like  a  face,  with  a  hand  before  it ;  if  it  is 
designed  for  a  likeness  of  your  friend,  I  don  t  envy  him  his  beauty." 

"  My  brother  must  go  to  school,"  said  the  Indian  smiling, — "  he 
cannot  read;  see,  the  moon  was  setting  when  they  started,  and  the 
Algonquin  was  ashamed !" 


140  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

The  symbols  wliich  have  been  described  were  of  the  coarsest 
kind,  and  such  as  may  have  been  prepared  ahiiost  within  the  time 
which  has  been  consumed  in  reading  the  brief  description  of  them  ; 
yet,  they  preserved  a  general  accuracy  of  outline  that  spoke  well  for 
the  artistical  talents  of  the  savage.  That  they  reflected  still  more 
credit  upon  his  heart,  need  scarcely  be  said,  since,  being  compelled 
thus  to  desert  a  friend  in  the  land  of  their  common  enemy,  he 
sought  by  these  means  to  enable  the  other  still  to  overtake  and 
rejoin  his  companions  ;  and  there  was  little  doubt  that  every  halting- 
place  on  his  homeward  journey  would  bear  evidence  of  the  same 
generous  design. 

"  The  moon  was  setting  when  they  started,  do  you  say  ?"  asked 
Henrich ;  "  it  must  have  been,  then,  but  a  few  hours  before  our 
arrival  ;  if  we  had  known  it  we  might  have  overtaken  them,  and 
might  possibl}^  do  so,  even  yet." 

The  Huron  had  longed  for  this  proposition,  though  he  had  but 
little  hopes  that  the  ladies  would  accede  to  it;  a  love  of  truth,  how- 
ever, would  not  |)ermit  him  to  hold  out  any  false  hopes  of  success  ; 
the  canoes,  he  said,  were  swifter  tlian  the  skiff,  and  had  already  six 
hours  the  start ;  but  the  count  made  many  pauses,  and  lost  much 
time  in  fre([uently  crossing  the  river  at  the  least  alarm. 

"  But  the  sun  is  moving,  while  we  stand  still,"  he  continued, 
pointing  to  the  eastern  horizon,  where  the  orb  of  day  was  just 
beginning  to  a})})ear, — "let  the  daughter  of  the  great  chief  speak — 
the  Lynx  must  obey." 

"  You  are  right ;  no  time  must  be  lost,  if  we  are  to  proceed," 
answered  Henrich  ;  "  go  waken  them,  and  we  will  decide  the  question 
with  a  full  council  board." 

"  We  will  spare  you  that  trouble,  gentlemen,  or  sachems,"  exclaimed 
the  laughing  voice  of  Blanche,  at  their  side ;  "  we  have  been  up 
these  three  minutes,  and  Emily  has  even  found  a  rivulet  in  the  rocks, 
in  wliich  she  is  makino;  her  ablutions,  and  of  which  1  am  to  have  the 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  141 

second  pn\nlege ;  I  dare  say  we  shall  have  breakfast  ready  in   a 
trice  :  what  would  you  please  to  order  ?" 

"I  do  not  know,  really,"  said  Henrich,  "a  grilled  screech-owl 
mio-ht  not  be  amiss,  or  a  few  frogs  from  the  creek :  if  these  cannot 
be  procured,  we  must  try  to  content  ourselves  with  the  commoner 
dainties  of  ham,  bread,  and  pastry,  with  which  my  good  gTandmother 
has  so  liberally  supphed  us." 

"Many  thanks,  then,  for  her  kindness,"  Blanche  repHed  ;  "I  really 
supposed  all  our  hopes  of  a  meal  depended  upon  finding  Count 
Carlton's  larder  :  is  anything  yet  learned  in  regard  to  his 
movements  ?" 

"  Everything,"  answered  Huntington ;  "  the  Lynx  has  received  a 
letter  from  an  Algonquin  Indian  who  belonged  to  his  company." 

"  A  letter  from  an  Indian  !— how  witten  ? — and  by  what  post  ? 
Surely  you  are  jesting." 

"  By  this  post,"  Henrich  added,  pointing  to  the  tree  at  their  side, 
"  and  if  I  have  rightly  followed  the  direction  of  your  eyes,  they  have 
already  discovered  it." 

"  I  see  a  broken  arrow  which  seems  to  have  been  caught  in  the 
cre\aces  of  the  bark,"  the  young  lady  answered  with  an  earnest  air : 
"  if  there  is  any  meaning  in  it,  tell  me,  I  pray,  without  delay  :  are 
our  friends  at  hand  ?" 

"  I  grieve  to  say  they  are  gone,  Miss  Montaigne  :  they  started  last 
evening  for  home,  but  two  hours  before  our  arrival— see,  here  is  the 

proof." 

Henrich  proceeded  to  explain  the  various  symbols  before  them  to 
the  great  astonishment  of  Blanche,  whose  extreme  interest  in  the 
information  left  her  httle  thought  for  the  ingenuity  displayed  jn 
conveying  it. 

"  And  is  it  possible,  Mr.  Huntington,"  she  said,  "  that  this  intelH- 
gence,  which  seems  to  be  indebted  to  an  active  imagination  for  half 
its  meaning,  can  be  rehed  on— can  be  the  proper  basis  of  any 
action  ?" 


142  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

"  It  is  as  reliable  as  ever  were  general  orders  under  the  sign- 
manual  of  the  Baron  Montaigne,"  answered  the  young  man  promj>tly ; 
"  I  would  venture  my  life  on  its  accuracy  ;  the  Lynx  has  not  thought 
it  necessary  even  to  look  for  any  corroborative  testimony,  and  only 
waits  your  decision  as  to  your  wishes." 

"  What  can  I  decide  ?  what  ought  I  to  do  ?"  she  asked,  looking 
imploringly,  and  \vith  an  alarmed  air  upon  Huntington — "  Surely, 
surely  we  cannot  continue  our  journey,  with  only  yourself  and  the  Lynx 
for  our  protectors  ;  nothing,  indeed,  but  my  father's  injunctions 
would  have  induced  me  to  attempt  it,  even  with  the  larger  escort 
which  we  anticipated.  There  can  be  but  slight  hope  of  overtaking 
the  count  if  we  should  follow  him,  and  it  only  remains  to  return  to 
the  city  :  what  think  you,  Mr.  Huntington,  does  not  prudence 
demand  such  a  course,  and  have  I  not  done  all  that  duty  requires 
in  trying  to  meet  the  wishes  of  my  father  ?" 

"  You  certainly  have  discharged  your  full  duty,  Miss  Montaigne, 
if  I  can  correctly  estimate  your  position,"  Henrich  answered,  "  and 
prudence,  as  you  say,  forbids  the  thought  of  attempting  to  travel  to 
Castle  Montaigne,  with  so  slight  a  guard  ;  yet  I  own  that  I  speak 
with  the  bias  of  a  strong  wish  for  your  return  to  New  York.  The 
Huron  thinks  there  would  be  a  chance  of  our  overtaking  his  late 
com[»anions,  but  scarcely  claims  it,  I  believe,  to  be  very  probable." 

"  Doubtless,  we  must  return,"  said  Blanche,  "  yet  we  will  leave 
nothing  in  reason,  undone  ;  it  is  early,  and  the  day  will  be  long  ;  if 
you  please,  therefore,  and  the  Lynx  is  willing " 

"  You  command  this  company,  Miss  Montaigne,"  said  Henrich, 
smiling,  "  please  to  speak  in  the  imperative  mood ;  no  eastern  despot 
has  a  more  willing  slave  than  the  Huron  seems  disposed  to  be  to 
you, — and  I,  you  know,  am  his  brother." 

"  You  honor  me  overmuch.  The  Sultaness,  then,  if  you  will  have 
it  so,  will  proceed  in  her  barge  up  the  river  for  the  space  of  three  or 
four  hours ;  if  within  that  time  no  trace  of  our  recusant  subjects  can 
be  found,  we  will  return  and  abandon  the  search.     The  count,  you 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  143 

know,"  she  continued,  dropping  her  assumed  air,  "  may  have 
encamped  on  the  shore,  and  may  discover  us  from  his  hiding-place ; 
he  may  not  think  it  prudent  to  travel  by  daylight  so  near  the 
English  capital." 

The  plan  of  action  being  once  settled,  no  time  was  lost  in  carry- 
ing it  out ;  the  boat  was  re-transferred  to  the  creek,  and,  within 
a  few  minutes,  the  whole  company  embarked,  not  a  little  elated  with 
the  novelty  and  interest  of  the  occasion.  The  morning  was  fine 
and  the  air  exhilarating,  and  there  were  many  conspiring  causes  to 
throw  joy  and  gladness  into  young  and  confident  hearts,  buoyant 
with  a  thousand  indefinite  yet  brilliant  hopes.  They  dropped 
quietly  down  the  glassy  stream,  and  into  the  broad  blue  river, 
greeted  by  the  early  song  of  birds,  and  catching  the  fragrance  of  a 
thousand  flowers  ;  while  the  voice  of  the  chirruping  squirrel,  and  the 
tapping  of  the  busy  woodpecker,  and  the  far  faint  voice  of  the  wary 
crow,  and  now  and  then  the  crashing  tread  of  some  larger  animal, 
startled  from  his  repose,  told  that  the  forests  were  ahve  with  their 
countless  varieties  of  existence ;  aye,  and  all  were  happy,  and  were 
proclaiming  to  the  dull  eye  and  ear  of  man,  plainer  than  printed 
tomes  or  sounding  speech,  the  one  great  beneficent  Author  of 
Nature. 


144  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 


'  Calm  is  the  deep  and  purple  sea, 
Yea,  smoother  than  the  sand  ; 
The  waves  that  woltering  wont  to  be, 
Are  stable  like  the  land. 

"  So  silent  is  the  cessile  air 
That  every  cry  and  call, 
The  hills,  and  dales,  and  forests  fair 

Again  repeat  them  &\V—jSlexander  Hume. 


Four  hours  the  voyagers  proceeded  northward,  keeping  a  most 
vigilant  watch  in  every  direction,  not  only  for  the  party  of  which 
they  were  in  pursuit,  but  for  the  roving  bands  of  Indians  which 
they  had  reason  to  fear  they  might  encounter.  The  danger  wdiich 
threatened  from  this  source,  though  shght  as  yet,  increased  at  every 
mile's  remove  from  the  capital,  for  althougli  the  tribes  who  inhabited 
or  rather  who  hunted  in  the  adjacent  forests,  were  in  alliance  with 
the  English,  the  Huron  guide  would  doubtless  give  character  to  the 
whole  party  in  their  eyes  if  the  travellers  should  be  unfortunate 
enough  to  be  intercepted.  No  signs  of  human  life,  however,  were 
visible,  and  in  vain  was  every  eye  pained  with  the  intense  effort  to 
discover,  in  the  bright  })athway  of  waters  that  seemed  to  extend 
interminably  northward,  some  trace  of  the  object  of  their  search. 

"  I  am  afraid  to  penetrate  further  into  these  solitudes,"  exclaimed 
Blanche  at  length,  "  the  stillness  of  death  hangs  over  them,  and  the 
echoes  of  our  voices  come  back  to  us  from  shores  that  are  half  a 
mile  distant ;  what  say  you,  Emily,  shall  we  not  return  ?" 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  145 

"  As  you  please,  cousin  Blanche,"  said  Miss  Roselle,  fally  second- 
ing the  wishes  of  Miss  Montaigne,  yet  wilHng  to  gain  credit  for  the 
larger  share  of  courage,  "  I  am  only  lady  of  the  bed-chamber  to 
your  royal  highness,  and  as  duty  seems  to  be  quite  the  watchword 
here,  I  have  made  up  my  mind  that  it  is  mine  either  to  be  scalped, 
or  tomahawked  at  your  bidding,  without  repining." 

"  Ah,  do  not  trifle,  Emily  ;  I  am  really  alarmed — say,  have  we 
not  done  all ?" 

"  Our  duty — you  would  say  again,"  interrupted  Emily — "  yes 
cousin  Blanche,  all — all  believe  me,  and  works  of  supererogation 
enough  beside  to  constitute  a  capital  for  a  canonized  saint ;  Father 
Ledra  might  envy  us,  and  shall  draw  upon  me  for  my  share,  if  he 
chooses,  when  we  are  once  safe  in  Castle  Montaigne." 

"  Do  not  jest  at  the  faith  of  our  dear  friend  ;  whatever  may  be 
its  errors,  his  prayers  rise  daily  for  us,  Emily,  and  there  seems  some- 
thing of  their  influence  in  the  gentleness  of  the  fate  which  has  thus  far 
attended  us.  We  will  return,"  she  added,  sadly,  and  with  starting 
tears  ;  "  it  will  be  a  disappointment  to  my  father,  and  he  will 
perhaps  even  blame  me,  but  it  cannot  be  avoided." 

Blanche  buried  her  face  in  her  hands,  and  scarcely  suppressed  the 
feelings  which  every  allusion  to  her  parent  seemed  to  awaken ;  and 
while  the  othei-s  remained  silent  from  respect  to  her  emotion,  the 
skitf  was  quietly  turned  about,  and  with  no  change  in  its  steady, 
monotonous  motion,  pursued  its  returning  course.  The  hour  was 
about  nine  in  the  morning,  the  same  morning  and  the  same  hour  in 
which  Ensign  Midge,  baffled  in  his  gallant  enterprise  of  capturing  a 
prisoner  of  state,  had  carried  back  to  Major  Grover  the  tidings  of 
his  discomfiture. 

It  was  long  past  mid-day  when  the  travellers  reached  the  creek 
from  which  they  had  set  out  in  the  morning ;  and  Henrich  and  the 
Lynx,  who  had  taken  alternate  hours  at  the  oai-s,  were  sufficiently 
fatigued  to  look  longingly  at  the  cool  landscape  past  which  they 
were  gliding.      The  proximity  of  the  city  left  little  to  fear  from 

7 


146  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

hostile  Indians,  and  a  challenge  from  Blanche  to  stop  for  rest  and  a 
lunch  in  the  woods,  was  readily  accepted.  A  favorable  spot  was 
selected,  and  the  vessel  having  been  landed  within  the  cover  of 
some  bushes,  its  wearied  occupants  leaped  gladly  upon  the  shore, 
the  baskets  were  brought  out,  and  while,  at  the  command  of  Miss 
Montaigne,  the  oarsmen  extended  themselves  in  the  shade  for 
repose,  the  ladies  proceeded  to  arrange  the  meal. 

"  It  becomes  us,"  said  Blanche,  "  to  see  that  the  strength  is  not 
uselessly  expended  which  is  required  in  our  service ;  please  to  let 
those  dreadful  guns  point  in  the  other  direction,  or  we  shall  never  get 
past  you — there,  you  may  sleep  now,  if  you  choose,  for  the  next 
fifteen  minutes — now,  Emily,  it  is  our  turn  to  work." 

A  dinner  that  might  have  excited  the  envy  of  a  modern  pic-nic 
party  was  speedily  set  out  from  the  varied  and  liberal  sup[>lies  of 
Dame  Waldron  ;  a  little  eminence  or  knoll,  garnished  with  wild 
flowers,  serving  for  the  table,  for  which  even  a  cloth  of  spotless 
white  was  not  wanting.  Water  was  procured  from  the  creek,  and 
everything  was  soon  arranged  with  a  delicacy  and  neatness  that 
seemed  to  impart  an  additional  flavor  to  the  viands  ;  yet  there  were 
appetites  in  waiting  which  scai'cely  required  tempting  ;  and  the 
companions,  without  distinction  of  caste,  were  soon  actively  employed 
in  ap[)easing  them. 

Many  good  things  were  disposed  of,  and  some  sparkling  thoughts 
were  generated  under  their  influence ;  but  while  the  mirth  of  the 
party  was  at  its  height,  a  sudden  sound  of  oars,  and  of  voices  close 
at  hand,  came  distinctly  to  every  ear,  and  elicited  a  quick  but  slight 
ejaculation  of  alarm  from  the  ladies.  Henrich  sprang  instanta- 
neously to  his  feet,  grasping  his  gun  as  he  i-ose,  while  the  Lynx, 
also  seizing  his  weapon,  threw  himself  as  suddenly  upon  the  ground, 
and  each  remained  a  moment  motionless,  gazing  towards  the  shore. 
The  sound  continued,  and  came  nearer,  seeming  to  proceed  from 
the  immediate  margin  of  the  river ;  but  the  bank,  which  was  some- 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  147 

what  high,  and  was  edged  with  bushes,  concealed  the  speakers  fi-om 
view,  and  rendered  their  voices  indistinct  to  the  hsteners. 

The  Huron  signified  to  his  companions  that  they  should  remain 
seated  and  silent  while  he  crept  to  the  shore  and  reconnoitred  the 
strangers ;  when,  with  the  stealthy  motion  of  a  cat,  slow  and  noise- 
less, rustling  no  leaves,  crackling  not  so  much  as  the  smallest  stick 
in  his  path,  the  Indian  gained  the  bank,  and  buried  his  head  in  a 
bush  that  overhung  its  edge.  No  portion  of  his  person  was  suffered 
to  protrude  through  his  leafy  covert ;  but  his  eyes,  brought  nearly 
to  its  outer  side,  rolled,  spai-kling,  in  every  direction,  like  those  of 
the  watchful  snake,  gleaming  from  the  still  grass  at  the  unconscious 
invader  of  his  haunts. 

Henrich's  situation  was  one  which  gave  him  a  partial  view  of  the 
Huron's  face,  and  he  watched  it  with  the  hope  of  gleaning  from  its 
expression  the  earliest  intelligence  of  the  nature  of  the  interruption ; 
but  for  some  moments  it  gave  no  evidence  of  any  discovery.  Sud- 
denly, however,  it  lighted  with  animation,  and,  at  the  next  moment, 
a  marked  and  extraordinary  change  came  upon  it ;  a  look  which,  but 
for  the  Lynx's  known  bravery,  Henrich  would  have  pronounced  to 
evince  the  most  unequivocal  fear.  The  Indian  drew  cautiously  back, 
and  when  his  face  came  fully  into  the  light,  there  was  no  longer  room 
for  a  doubt  as  to  the  character  of  the  emotions  it  depicted  ;  terror, 
absolute  and  unqualified,  such  as  a  warrior  may  not  exhibit,  such  as 
the  tortures  and  the  stake  in  the  Wappeno  village  had  not  inspired, 
were  plainly  marked  upon  his  features.  So  apparent  was  this,  even 
to  Blanche  and  Emily,  that  each  turned  pale  as  they  gazed  upon 
him,  and  for  some  moments  after  he  had  crept  silently  back  to  the 
knoll,  liis  companions  waited  in  vain  for  him  to  speak  and  explain 
the  mystery. 

"What  has  my  brother  seen?"  whispered  Henrich,  at  length, 
disguising,  as  best  he  could,  his  own  growing  alarm  ;  "  are  the 
Wappenos  upon  us  ?  if  so,  we  have  but  httle  cause  to  dread  them — 
but  perhaps  they  are  Mohawks  from  the  north  ?" 


148  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

The  Huron  shook  his  head,  and  laying  down  his  gun  with  a 
carelessness  as  to  its  position  that  seemed  to  evince  no  expectation 
of  requiring  its  aid,  pointed  steadily  to  the  ground,  and  muttered 
some  unintelHgible  words  in  his  own  dialect. 

"  Merciful  Father  !"  exclaimed  Emily,  grasping  the  arm  of  Hen- 
ricli ;  "  what  does  he  mean  ?  let  us  fly  into  the  woods,  quick — quick 
— there  is  no  time  to  lose." 

"  Keep  silence,  Miss  Roselle,  I  implore  you,"  whispered  Henrich, 
with  great  equanimity,  passing,  at  the  same  time,  a  cup  of  water 
from  the  grassy  table  to  Blanche,  who  stared  at  him  \vith  deathly 
paleness  ;  "  we  must  not  stir  or  speak ;  an  Indian's  ears  are  like 
the  mole's,  and  the  whole  forest  is  but  a  whispering  gallery  to  their 
acute  senses;  once  more  I  implore  you,"  he  continued,  turning  to 
the  Lynx,  "  to  tell  us  the  cause  of  the  alarm :  what  was  it  that  you 
saw  ?" 

The  Huron  again  pointed  to  the  ground,  and  whispered,  "  What 
you  call  him — with  the  pitchfork — down  there — our  good  fathers  at 
the  chapel  have  told  us — he  roasts  the  Iroquois — see  !" 

A  look  of  horror  closed  this  explanation,  as  a  rustling  was  heard 
near  the  bank,  and  the  white  hair  and  black  visage  of  Harry  Bolt 
emerged  from  the  parted  bushes,  followed  by  his  long,  ungainly  body. 
A  burst  of  laughter  succeeded  from  Henrich,  at  once  re-assuring 
the  alarmed  ladies,  and  partly  allaying  the  fears  of  the  puzzled 
Indian  who  continued  to  gaze  with  a  bewildered  air,  alternately  at 
the  approaching  negro,  and  at  his  own  now  merry  companions. 

Ilany  was  hatless  and  coatless,  his  brawny  arms  were  bare  to  the 
shoulders,  and  it  was  scarcely  strange  that  the  Lynx,  who  had  never 
seen  an  African,  and  had  been  taught  by  his  spiritual  guides  at  the 
castle,  not  only  the  existence  of  the  author  of  evil,  but  his  frequent 
personal  appearance  on  the  earth,  had  suspected  his  presence  in  so 
strange  an  apparition ;  especially  in  the  land  of  the  Iroquois,  where, 
according  to  the  Huron  belief,  he  would  have  frequent  employ- 
ment. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  149 

Harry  was  followed  at  a  little  distance  by  a  boy  of  his  own  color, 
and  seemed  to  be  in  a  state  of  excitement  not  materially  less  tlian 
that  which  had  recently  agitated  the  Indian. 

"  Oh,  massa  Henrich  1  massa  Henrich !"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  drew 
near,  with  widely  distended  eyes,  and  upraised  arms,  "  oh  massa 
Henrich — massa  Henrich  /" 

"  What's  the  matter,  Harry  ?"  said  Henrich,  laughing  ;  "  speak  out, 
and  have  done  with  it,  if  you  have  anything  to  say  ;  you  have 
frightened  the  Lynx  enough  already  ;  I  don't  want  to  flatter  you, 
but  he  really  mistook  you  for  the  devil !" 

"  Oh,  no,  no,  Massa  Lynch,"  said  Harry,  "  I  ain't  de  debbil,  but 
he's  comin',  sartain  ;  GaflTer  AVallon  send  me  to  tell  you,  Massa 
Heniich  ;  oh  golly,  oh  gosh  !" 

"  What  can  the  chattering  baboon  mean  ?"  exclaimed  Huntington, 
"  he  hasn't  come  here  for  nothing,  that's  evident ;  here,  you,  Ruppy," 
he  continued,  addressing  the  boy,  "  do  you  know  anything  about 
this  ?  what  did  my  grandfather  send  Harry  here  for  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  the  boy,  more  composedly,  though  with  a 
bashful  air — "  but  the  house  has  been  full  of  sojers,  this  morning, 
ramsacking  it  all  ober,  sir — and  they  cotched  Miss  Doxy  and  wuz 
goin'  to  carry  her  off,  kaze  dey  said  it  was  Miss  Mountain." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  chimed  in  the  senior  negro,  "  and  Gaffer  'fraid  you 
come  back,  or  go  too  slow,  and  dey  send  a  sloop  arter  you,  or 
sumpin — oh  golly,  we  look  ebery  where  for  you,  and  wuz  jes  goin' 
back,  when  Ruppy,  dare,  seed  your  boat  in  de  bushes." 

"  It  is  some  new  de\dce  of  that  dreadful  man,"  exclaimed  Blanche, 
with  ashen  hps,  "  do  you  know,  Harry,  whether  Major  Grover  was 
with  the  soldiers  ?" 

"  No,  mum,"  answered  the  boy,  hastily,  "  he  wa'nt  dare — it  was 
General  Midge,  and  he  s'roimded  de  house,  and  drawed  his  sword, 
and  looked  mighty  grand." 

"  Ensign  Midge,"  said  Henrich,  "  is  one  of  Grover's  creatures,  and 
I  fear  it  is  as  you  suspect ;  they  have  evidently  learned  your  name, 


150  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

Miss  Montaigne,  for  the  boy  seems  to  have  heard  it  mentioned,  and 
this  is  some  pretence  of  making  you  a  prisoner  of  state ;  what  did 
you  say  they  called  Doxy,  boy  V 

"  Dey  called  her  Miss  Mountain,  sar  ;  and  she  said  she  was  ony 
Doxy,  and  was  goin'  to  tell  ware  you  wuz,  and  Gaffer  Wallon  made 
her  shut  up." 

"  A  thousand  blessings  on  his  venerable  head !"  exclaimed 
Huntington — "  we  must  not  neglect  his  warning ;  Miss  Montaigne, 
the  moment  has  come  for  an  important  decision ;  on  either  hand  is 
peril,  and  you  must  choose  between  them  ;  a  return  to  New  York, 
or  a  long,  weary,  dangerous  journey,  with,  I  grieve  to  say,  a  sadly 
deficient  guard." 

"  I  need  no  time  for  choice,"  exclaimed  Blanche,  with  an  earnest- 
ness that  startled  her  hearers  ;  "  I  would  trust  myself  this  moment 
in  the  camp  of  the  Mohawks,  rather  than  in  the  hands  of  that 
fearful  man  ;  but  you,  Emily,  I  have  no  right  to  require  to  share 
such  perils  ;  nor  you,  my  friend ;  I  will  go  with  the  Lynx  alone,  and 
God,  who  protects  the  friendless,  will  be  our  shield." 

It  was  with  an  air  of  lofty  resolution  that  these  words  were 
uttered,  imparting  to  the  beautiful  features  of  the  speaker,  a  new 
and  singular  expression  ;  whoever  had  beheld  the  marked  counte- 
nance of  the  Baron  Montaigne,  and  the  eagle-hke  flashing  of  his 
eye,  could  not  fail  to  pei'ceive  the  passing  resemblance — revealed, 
as  it  were,  by  the  lightning  flash  of  feehng — betwixt  father  and 
child. 

"  Do  not  believe.  Miss  Montaigne,"  replied  Henrich,  "  that  I  can 
be  induced  to  desert  you ;  were  I  willing  to  do  so,  the  world  of 
chi\alry  would  cry  shame  on  such  an  act :  I  approve,  aye,  ai)})laud, 
your  choice,  and  am  ready  to  share  its  perils  ;  one  more,  therefore, 
is  added  to  your  guard — what  say  you,  Harry  Bolt,  at  making  a 
third  ?" 

"  Making  what,  massa  Henrich  ?"  asked  the  negTo. 

"  Will  you  go  with  us  to  protect  this  lady,   three  hundred  miles 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  151 

up  tliese  rivers  and  lakes,  to  her  father's  house ;  there  will  be  hard- 
ship and  danger — perhaps  death." 

"Massa  Henrich,"  said  the  negro,  "I  will  go  to  de  moon  with 
Missa  Blanche  :  I  will  go  to  de  land  of  de  Hottenpots  with  her  !  I 
cry  half  de  way  up  here,  fear  de  sojers  cotch  her — she  make  Jule 
free,  oh  golly  !" 

Henrich  grasped  the  hand  of  the  negro,  and  shook  it  as  if  they 
had  been  brothers,  while  the  tears  poured  hke  rain  down  the  cheeks 
of  Miss  Montaigne.  "  We  are  three  strong  men,"  he  said,  "  and  the 
Lynx  alone  is  a  host  in  sagacity  and  skill ;  add  to  this  that  there  is 
some  hope  even  yet  of  overtaking  the  count,  and  our  cause  is  by  no 
means  desperate ;  only  one  question  more  remains  to  be  decided  ;" 
and  Huntington  turned  to  Miss  Roselle  as  he  spoke. 

"  It  is  decided  !"  said  Emily,  catching  the  contagious  enthusiasm 
of  the  moment — "  I  will  go  with  my  cousin,  even  to  death." 

If  Miss  Roselle  was  ever  captious  and  trifling  in  the  hour  of  secu- 
rity, she  yet  possessed  in  her  inner  nature  much  of  woman's  self- 
sacrificing  spirit ;  Blanche  bestowed  upon  her  a  look  of  exceeding 
tenderness ;  and  when,  at  the  next  moment,  Henrich  turned  to 
converse  aside  with  the  negro,  the  cousins,  for  the  first  time,  perhaps, 
since  childhood,  were  locked  in  a  sisterly  embrace. 

"  Let  us  then  lose  no  time,"  said  Henrich  ;  "  Ruppy  can  take  back 
Harry's  boat,  but  we  must  guard  against  his  prating  ;  here,  boy," 
he  continued,  thrusting  several  pieces  of  silver  coin  into  tlie  lad's 
hand,  "  mind  now  what  I  say  to  you :  you  must  not  speak  a  word 
in  two  days,  excepting  to  grandfether  Waldron — do  you  hear  ?" 

"  Yes,  Massa,  I  won't  tell " 

"  Tut — tut — that  isn't  enough — if  your  mouth  opens,  out  it  will 
come  in  some  shape,  t  know ;  but  you  must  not  sjieak  a  word  to  a 
li\ing  soul  in  two  days,  excepting  to  grandfather — will  you 
promise  ?" 

"  Yes,  Massa,  I  promise  ;  I'll  go  to  sleep,"  said  the  boy,  grinning, 


162  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

and  then  setting  his  Hps  closely  together,  and  eyeing  joyfully  the 
sparkling  coin. 

The  party  now  proceeded  at  once  to  re-embark ;  and  as  they 
approached  the  water,  an  ejaculation  of  pleasure  from  the  Lynx  was 
heard,  which  proved  to  be  occasioned  by  a  sight  of  the  boat  in  which 
the  negro  had  come  up  from  the  city :  it  was  a  long,  light,  and 
narrow  canoe,  of  moderate  size,  and  admirably  adapted  for  the  pur- 
pose of  the  fugitives. 

"  This  is  truly  a  windfall,"  exclaimed  Henrich, — "  whose  is  this, 
Harry  ? — but  no  matter — if  it  were  the  Queen's  I  would  take  it  in 
such  a  cause  :  whose  is  it,  I  say  ?" 

"  It's  mine,  by  jingo  !"  answered  Harry,  triumphantly ;  "  I  buy 
him  of  Winny  last  spring  to  go  fishin'  on  de  Sound,  and  cotch  him 
half  full  de  fust  time :  and  dat's  my  gun,  too,"  he  added ;  "  don't 
Massa  Henrich  remember  how  I  shoot  de  turkey's  tail  off  with  him 
last  Christmas,  at  de  sliootin'  match ;  and  ole  Gummel  wouldn't  let 
me  hab  him,  'kaze  I  didn't  draw  blood — blast  his  old  pictur  !" 

"  All  our  fortunate  stars  seem  to  be  in  conjunction  to-day,"  said 
Henrich ;  "  I  knew,  indeed,  that  Harry  never  stirs  abroad  without 
his  rifle — but  the  canoe  is  an  unexpected  treasure." 

The  necessary  changes  were  hastily  made,  and  within  five  minutes 
the  two  boats  were  receding  from  each  other. 

"Remember,  Ruppy,  you  are  to  give  my  best  love,  and  our 
thanks  to  old  Mr.  Waldron,"  Blanche  called  out  as  the  boats  began 
to  separate. 

The  boy  nodded. 

"  Will  you  remember,  Ruppy  ?"  she  asked  again,  with  much 
earnestness,  bending  over  the  side  of  the  boat,  and  looking  back  as 
she  spoke  ;  and  again  the  boy  rephed  only  with  an  affirmative 
gesture  of  the  head. 

"  Why  don't  you  speak,  you  ill-mannered  fellow^  ?"  asked  Henrich, 
angrily  :  "  do  you  hear  what  Miss  Montaigne  says  to  you  ?" 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  153 

Ruppy  bowed  his  head  to  his  knees,  but  still  kept  his  Hps  tightly 
together  ;  and  then,  by  way  of  explaining  his  conduct,  stopped 
rowing,  took  the  silver  coins  from  his  pocket,  and  held  them  up  to 
view. 

"  All  right !"  answered  Henrich,  laughing,  and  the  travellers  pro- 
ceeded rapidly  on  their  way. 


1* 


154  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 


CHAPTER     XIX, 


"  See  he  bears  the  line  away, 
Round  him  flies  the  snowy  spray, 
I  h;ive  given  him  length  ;ind  line, 
One  more  struggle,  he  is  mine." — Miss  Landon. 


It  was  with  an  air  of  confidence,  w^liich  at  times,  before,  had 
seemed  partly  to  desert  him,  that  the  Lynx  had  taken  his  seat  in 
the  slender  and  graceful  canoe,  which  springing  forward  in  its  path, 
with  an  equable  and  noiseless  motion,  promised  a  very  different  rate 
of  progress  from  that  to  which  the  voyagers  had  hitherto  been  con- 
fined. Taking  the  centre  of  the  stream,  and  keeping  a  vigilant  watch 
on  either  shore,  they  maintained  their  way  with  a  uniform  speed, 
and  without  molestation,  until  dark,  when  they  paused  for  a  few 
hours  of  repose.  Soon  after  midnight  they  resumed  their  course, 
and  by  the  time  the  i"isen  sun  of  the  ensuing  morning  was  brighten- 
ing the  waters  with  its  horizontal  beams  there  were  twenty  good 
leagues  of  land  and  river  betwixt  the  fugitives  and  the  city  they  had  left. 

Early  in  the  day,  they  again  stopped  for  rest  and  shelter  from  the 
heat  ;  and  when,  after  a  few  hours,  some  friendly  clouds  had 
obscured  the  burning  sky,  they  again  ventured  forth.  No  time  was 
unnecessarily  lost,  and  nothing  that  the  strength,  vigilance,  and 
valor,  of  three  men,  conscious  of  a  most  momentous  charge,  could 
effect,  was  left  undone  to  secure  the  safety  and  comfort  of  the  ladies, 
who  in  their  turn  manifested  the  utmost  fortitude  and  resolution, 
and  a  cheerful  acquiescence  in  the  many  inconveniences  and  priva- 
tions to  which  they  were  necessarily  subjected. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  155 

On  the  second  morning  their  provisions,  which  had  been  designed 
as  aiixihjiry  to  those  of  the  count,  rather  than  as  an  independent 
^"PPb'>  ^^^  become  reduced  to  a  small  store,  and  under  the  vigorous 
attacks  of  three  strong  and  hard-working  men,  could  not  evidently 
last  for  another  day.  It  became  therefore  necessary  to  forage  tor 
food,  and  as  it  was  unsafe  to  fire  a  gun,  lest  it  should  attract  hostile 
notice,  the  uncertainty  of  procuring  it  caused  no  little  anxiety. 
Harry,  however,  was  observed,  as  they  stopped  at  mid-day,  on  a  small 
island,  to  eye  various  parts  of  the  shore  with  much  minuteness,  and 
fina^y  announced,  partly  in  reply  to  the  discussions  on  this  })oint, 
and  partly  doubtless,  in  reference  to  what  was  passing  in  his  own 
mind,  that  he  saw  some  ground  which  must  contain  plenty. 

"  Plenty  of  what,  Harry  ?"  asked  Huntington,  "  we  shall  scarcely 
find  corn  or  potatoes  in  this  wilderness,  I  fear;  there  may  be 
artichokes  and  some  other  wild  roots  that  are  edible,  but  they  will 
not  give  much  strength  for  work  like  ours." 

"  No,  no,  massa  Henrich,  I  don't  mean  nuffin  like  dat,"  said 
Harry,  helping  to  secure  the  canoe,  "  I  mean  worms  /" 

"  Worms,  Harry !"  exclaimed  Henrich,  "  you  don't  think  we  can 
eat  worms  ?  I  have  heard,  indeed,  of  your  Hottenpots,  as  you  call 
them,  or  some  other  African  tribe,  doing  such  things,  but " 

"  Look  a-here,  massa  Henrich,"  answered  the  negro,  springing 
into  the  boat,  and  ])ulling  out  a  small  locker  or  drawer  from  one 
end  of  the  vessel — "  do  you  see  dem  ?" 

Henrich's  eyes  followed  the  other,  and  fell  upon  a  confused  lot  of 
fishing  tackle,  hues,  leads,  hooks  and  buoys,  which  seemed  to  have 
been  thrown,  promiscuously,  into  the  drawer ;  the  great  value  of 
which  in  their  present  emergency,  became  strikingly  apparent. 

"  Harry  Bolt,  you  are  a  jewel,"  he  exclaimed,  "  a  crown-jewel  ! 
how  chanced  you  to  bring  these  with  you  ?" 

"  Why,  you  see,  I  spected  to  fish  and  shoot  bofe  goin'  back 
home,  de  oder  arternoon — look  dare,  dat  is  my  troUin'  hne,  dat  ketch 
'em  bass,  when  de  boat  goin'  eber  so  fast." 


156  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

"  I  see — I  see,  and  there's  the  Lynx,  ah-eady,  with  an  ashen  stick, 
that  he  is  going  to  make  into  a  bow,  I'll  be  bound,  in  order  to  kill 
game,  without  making  a  noise  ;  alas  !  ladies,  these  men  will  carry 
off  all  the  honors,  and  leave  me  nothing  that  I  can  do  for  you !" 

"  '  Qui  facit  per  alium,  facit  per  6'e,' "  replied  Blanche,  laughing, 
"  if  I  may  quote  a  favorite  maxim  of  my  father's ;  we  are  indebted 
to  you  for  both  the  negro  and  the  Lynx  ;  aye,  for  the  very  life  of 
the  latter ;  he  told  us  the  whole  thrilling  story  this  morning." 

"  And  with  a  countenance  more  expressive  of  gratitude  than  any 
I  ever  beheld,"  added  Emily — "  why,  Mr.  Huntington,  had  you  left 
us  so  long  in  ignorance  of  it  V 

"  Solely,  I  beheve,  because  the  exciting  events  of  the  last  few 
days  have  fully  engrossed  my  attention,"  said  Henrich ;  "  you  would 
have  heard  it  from  me,  doubtless,  very  soon ;  indeed,  you  will 
find  me  an  adept  at  blowing  my  own  trumpet,  but  it  must  be  a 
very  gingerly  twang  that  I  give  it  in  this  instance  when  it  is  con- 
sidered that  all  which  my  utmost  efforts  failed  to  effect,  was  procured 
by  a  few  frothy  words  from  a  vagrant  Indian." 

"  You  certainly  have  a  tact  at  decrying  yourself,"  Blanche  replied  ; 
"  if  you  blow  your  own  trumpet,  you  reverse  it  first,  and  give  us 
most  diminutive  notes." 

When  the  tra\  ellers  were  again  in  readiness  to  start,  the  Huron 
made  his  appearance  equipped  with  an  ashen  bow,  tightly  strung, 
and  a  small  bundle  of  arrows,  while  Harry  came  to  the  boat  chuck- 
ling over  a  pocket-full  of  squirming  bait,  which,  with  difficulty,  he  was 
induced  to  transfer  to  some  fitter  receptacle.  No  sooner  was  the  canoe 
under  way  than  his  skill  in  trolling  was  put  to  trial,  and  tor  a  long 
hour  an  agglomerated  mass  of  worms  was  towed  through  the  water,  to 
the  great  chagrin  of  the  negro,  without  effect.  Now  the  vessel  went 
too  fast,  and  now  too  slow  ;  at  one  time  the  oars  made  too  much 
noise  ;  then  there  was  too  much  talking,  and  Harry's  patience  and 
excuses   were  well  nigh  exhausted,  when  a  sudden  succession  of 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HUR0N8 


157 


strange  ejaculations  gave  notice  of  some  change  in  tlie  state  of 
affairs. 

"  Hip — ho — dare — golly  !  hold  up  a  little,  Massa  Lynch, — come 
along  here  !  wo — wu — wah ;  stiddy,  dis  way,  if  it's  all  de  same  to 
ymi ;"  the  last  words  being  uttered  in  answer  to  a  lateral  movement 
of  the  fish — "  now  den,  he's  comin', — you  eat  my  worms,  will  you  ? 
hip — hoo — hah  !  dare — dare  he  is,  by  Jingo  !"  and  a  heavy  fall  in 
the  boat,  followed  by  a  brisk,  flapping  noise,  announced  the  arrival 
of  the  fish,  which  proved  to  be  a  bass  of  about  three  pounds  weight. 
No  words  can  paint  the  exultation  of  the  negro  at  this  successful 
result  of  his  labors,  and  detecting  with  a  sportsman's  eye,  Henrich's 
eager  interest  in  the  scene,  he  at  once  oflfered  him  the  hne,  which 
the  other  as  readily  accepted. 

"  But  this  is  not  a  good  bass-hook,  Hariy,"  he  said,  "  have  you 
none  better  than  this  ?  a  little  larger  barb,  and  the  point  more  in 
this  direction,  on  one  side  ?" 

"  I  got  'em,  massa,"  said  Harry,  speaking  fi'om  between  his  knees, 
as  he  bent  over  his  locker,  "  but  dey  isn't  so  good,  for  sartain  ; 
nothin'  Hke  a  straight  hook  for  bass." 

"  A  straight  hook !"  exclaimed  Henrich,  laughing,  "  that  is  some- 
thing new,  Harry  ;  that  must  be  a  spear,  I  think  ;  but  never  mind, 
— yes,  ah,  that's  the  thing  exactly,"  he  added,  selecting  one  fi'om  a 
paper  which  the  negro  held  out,  "  now  we  shall  see  whose  hook  is 
the  best." 

So  saying,  Henrich  proceeded  to  arrange  the  line  with  its  new 
pendant,  and  baiting  it  also  after  some  peculiar  notions  of  his  own, 
he  tossed  it  upon  the  water,  and  for  many  minutes  sat  anxiously 
watching  the  result.  The  interest  in  the  sport  had  become  general, 
the  Lynx  alone  who  was  at  the  oars,  bending  unremittingly  to  his 
task,  seeming  not  to  participate  in  it.  Nearly  half  an  hour  had 
elapsed,  when  a  nervous  start  of  Henrich's  whole  fi:ame,  and  a  slow 
steady  overhand  pull  upon  the  line  attracted  every  eye  to  the  wake 
of  the  boat,  in   which,  floundering  upon  the  very  surface  of  the 


158  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

water,  and  approaching,  open-mouthed,  towards  the  vessel,  a  fish  of 
apparently  eight  or  ten  pounds'  weight  was  seen.  At  the  next 
instant,  it  darted  suddenly  down,  and  Henrich,  distrusting  the 
strength  of  his  hne,  suffered  it  to  escape  through  his  hands,  for 
several  seconds,  and  not  until  the  frightened  fish  had  [>artly 
exhausted  its  strength,  did  the  angler  again  draw  it  to  the  surface. 
A  breathless  silence  prevailed  in  the  boat ;  the  Lynx  had  dropped 
his  oars,  the  negro,  with  bulging  eyes,  was  leaning  over  the  side  of 
the  canoe,  while  Henrich,  with  every  faculty  alive  to  his  sport, 
seemed  unconscious  of  anything  besides. 

"  He  'm  a  bass,  massa — a  bass !"  said  Harry,  as  the  struggling 
captive  came  once  more  in  view  ;  "  I  see  him  fins — a  ten  pounder 
— but  dare,  dare,  he's  off"! — he's  off"!  oh,  de  debbil  take  de  crooked 
hooks ;  I  tell  a-you  so,  massa  Henrich  !" 

"  Stop  your  yelping,  Harry !"  exclaimed  Henrich,  angrily,  and 
rising  to  his  feet,  with  his  eyes  still  intently  fixed  on  the  line,  which 
he  had  again  paid  out,  as  the  fish  descended,  "  he's  not  off",  but  I 
see  no  way  of  getting  him  into  the  boat ;  he  weighs  fifteen  pounds 
if  he  weighs  an  ounce." 

As  Henrich  stopped  speaking,  the  bass  came  again  almost  to  the 
top  of  the  water,  and  remained  nearly  stationary,  his  captor  keeping 
a  tight  line  upon  it,  and  both  parties  seeming  undecideu  as  to  future 
movements. 

"  Try  um,  massa !"  said  Harry,  imploringly — "  ony  jis  try  um — 
he  bery  strong  line." 

"  Nonsense,  Harry — it  would  break  like  twine,  I  tell  you — and  if 
not,  the  hook  certainly  would." 

As  he  spoke,  a  slight  tipping  of  the  boat  attracted  attention,  and 
the  Lynx,  scarcely  plashing  the  water,  was  seen  quietly  swimming 
from  the  bow  of  the  canoe,  in  a  direction  to  approach  the  fish  from 
behind,  which  half  exhausted,  still  lay  nearly  motionless,  and  with 
distended  jaws,  a  few  yards  from  the  canoe.  No  sound  gave  warn- 
ing of  this  new  danger  to  the  victim,  and  in   another  minute,  the 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  159 

long  dark  fingers  of  the  Indian  glided  into  the  open  gills  of  the 
bass,  which  the  Huron,  with  extended  arms,  raised  entirely  from  the 
river,  maintaining  himself  meanwhile  from  sinking  by  the  rapid 
motion  of  the  feet  known  to  swimmers  as  "  treading  water."  Harry 
sprang  to  the  oars,  and  by  a  few^  dexterous  mo^•ements  threw  the 
canoe  alongside  of  the  Lynx,  and  at  the  next  moment,  the  object  of 
their  prolonged  solicitude  was  floundering  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 
The  Indian  followed,  dripping  like  a  drenched  dog,  yet  excited  to 
actual  laughter  by  his  achievement,  which  received  the  hearty 
plaudits  of  the  whole  company.  The  size  of  the  fish,  as  nearly  as 
could  be  ascertained,  rather  exceeded  than  fell  short  of  Huntington's 
estimate ;  and  Harry,  gazing  disconcertedly  from  it  to  his  own  dimi- 
nutive prize,  reluctantly  conceded  the  merits  of  the  "  crooked  hook." 
But  the  amusement  of  the  party  was  interrupted  at  its  height  by 
the  starthng  announcement  from  the  Huron  that  a  canoe  was  visible 
several  miles  to  the  north,  and  by  his  earnest  injunctions  to  the 
negro,  who  had  possession  of  the  oars,  to  pull  rapidly  for  the  shore, 
springing  meanwhile  himself  to  the  tiller,  and  giving  the  desired 
direction  to  the  boat.  Every  eye  was  strained  to  discover  the  object 
of  alarm,  but  without  effect,  and  Henrich,  watching  the  earnest 
countenance  of  the  Lynx,  as  the  latter  continued  to  gaze  fixedly  at 
the  distant  vessel,  awaited  his  further  communications  without 
question.  AVhen  their  boat  had  approached  within  about  thirty 
yards  of  the  eastern  shore,  so  as  to  be  invisible  from  any  great 
distance  by  reason  of  its  dark  background,  the  Lynx  again  changed 
its  course  to  the  north,  and  enjoined  the  negro  not  to  abate  his 
speed.  He  then  rapidly  explained  his  movements  to  Huntington  ; 
asking  his  counsel,  and  disclaiming  any  design  to  control  the 
movements  of  his  companions.  To  gain  a  position  where,  them- 
selves being  unseen,  they  could  reconnoitre  the  stranger,  was 
however  too  clearly  a  matter  of  prudence  to  require  debate ;  the 
canoe  might  be  one  of  Carlton's,  and  if  so  was  to  be  pursued,  it 
might  be  an  enemy's,  and  in  that  case  was  of  coui-se  to  be  shunned. 


160  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

It  was  travelling  in  the  same  direction  with  themselves,  not  far  from 
the  middle  of  the  river,  and  an  hour's  progi'ess  of  the  pursuers 
brought  it  into  the  view  of  the  whole  party,  and  enabled  the  Lynx 
to  assert  that  it  had  three  occupants.  This  announcement  increased 
the  general  hope  that  it  might  prove  to  be  part  of  the  count's 
company,  which,  including  himself,  consisted  of  six,  and  was  in  two 
boats  ;  and  as  the  voyagers  were  now  approaching  the  more  dangerous 
part  of  their  journey,  the  value  of  such  a  conjunction  of  forces  could 
not  well  be  over  estimated.  While  this  probabihty  was  discussed 
by  Henrich  and  the  ladies,  the  Indian  gave  confirmation  to  it  by 
pointing  out  another  boat,  with  the  same  number  of  inmates,  a  little 
in  advance  of  its  consort,  but  somewhat  nearer  the  western  shore, 
from  the  shadows  of  which  it  was  just  emerging. 

"  Then  they  are,  indeed,  our  friends  !"  exclaimed  Blanche,  with 
animation,  while  a  general  joy  pervaded  the  party  ;  "  there  can  no 
longer  be  a  doubt :  why  should  we  not  strike  out  at  once  into  the 
middle  of  the  stream,  where  we  may  ourselves  be  discovered  ?" 

"  We  must  be  more  certain,"  replied  Henrich,  "  before  making  so 
hazardous  a  movement ;  a  mistake  here  may  be  fatal ;  but  we  shall 
have  farther  tidings  soon  from  the  Lynx  :  see  how  his  eyes  are  fixed : 
you  may  be  sure  his  oracular  voice  will  be  heard  again  ere  long." 

A  short  time  elapsed  in  silence,  during  which  the  sunlight  from 
between  some  parting  clouds  fell  upon  the  distant  boats,  and  in  the 
next  minute  the  rudder  under  the  Huron's  guidance  turned  suddenly 
outward,  throwing  the  bow  of  his  vessel  around  towards  the  west, 
while  a  smile  of  satisfaction  played  across  his  countenance. 

"  Are  you  quite  certain  it  is  they  ?"  asked  Henrich,  anxiously,  as 
this  decided  movement  was  made. 

"  The  Lynx  can  see,"  was  the  brief  reply. 

"  Whom  do  you  see,  and  what  ?" 

"  I  see  the  Algonquin — the  count — and  the  soldiers :  they  are 
six — they  are  no  more — is  it  not  enough  ?" 

But  the  Indian's  sagacity  wa^  slightly  at  fault ;  for  when  he  had 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  161 

brought  his  boat  within  the  view  of  his  distant  friends,  he  had  the 
mortification  of  seeing  them,  instead  of  waiting  for,  or  turning  to 
meet  him,  evidently  proceeding  on  their  course  with  increased  speed. 
He  had  not  made  allowance  for  the  circumstance,  that  the  sunhght 
which  revealed  them  so  distinctly  to  him  did  not  extend  as  far  south 
as  his  own  position ;  and  that,  although  the  Algonquin's  vision  was 
scarcely  inferior  to  his  own,  he  could  probably  distinguish  nothing 
beyond  the  fact  that  there  was  a  boat  with  five  occuj^ants  following 
them.  As  there  was  nothing  in  this  number  which  could  identify 
the  latter  as  their  friends,  the  others  would,  of  course,  suppose  them 
to  be  Iroquois,  and  would  use  their  best  efforts  to  widen  the  distance 
between  them.  The  Huron  now  perceived  that  he  ought  to  have 
remained  in  the  marginal  shadows  of  the  river  until  he  had  attained 
a  proximity  to  his  friends,  which,  on  emerging  into  the  light,  would 
distinctly  reveal  the  character  of  his  party. 

There  was  no  time,  however,  for  vain  regrets ;  the  sun  was  within 
a  few  hours  of  its  setting,  and  the  night  might  separate  the  parties 
beyond  the  hope  of  uniting.  An  open  chase  would  be  probably 
useless,  and  the  Lynx,  explaining  his  intentions  in  a  few  words  to 
Henrich,  took  a  diagonal  direction  across  the  river,  entirely  to  the 
western  shore,  hoping  thus  to  allay  suspicion,  and  give  to  his  party 
the  appearance  of  not  being  in  pursuit.  Having  done  this,  he 
resumed  his  way  within  a  few  minutes,  keeping  close  to  the  land, 
and  being  nearly  certain  that  he  was  no  longer  observed  by  the 
count's  party.  On  the  preceding  day  he  had  considerately  prepared 
a  pair  of  rude  paddles  for  the  canoe,  to  be  used  in  addition  to  the 
oars  when  safety  required  extraordinary  speed,  and  these  were  now 
brought  into  service,  although  for  a  very  different  purpose  from  that 
for  which  they  had  been  designed.  They  were  handled  by  Henrich 
and  the  negro,  the  Huron  himself  taking  the  oars,  while  Blanche, 
with  a  little  occasional  instruction,  guided  the  helm.  The  increased 
velocity  thus  obtained  was  very  considerable ;  and,  as  the  speed  of 
the  other  boats  had  perceptibly  diminished,  the  distance  between  the 


162  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

parties  was  reduced,  when  the  sun  touched  the  horizon,  to  about 
half  a  mile. 

It  was  unsafe  to  wait  longer  lest  darkness  should  baffle  their 
design,  and  suddenly  quitting  their  obscurity  the  pursuers  again 
darted  out  into  the  middle  of  the  stream,  when  the  Lynx,  rising  to 
his  feet,  extended  his  arms  in  gestures  of  friendly  salutation.  But 
it  was  without  avail.  The  Algonquin  was  unfortunately  in  the  forward 
boat,  which  had  turned  a  bend  in  the  river  and  disappeared  from 
view,  while  the  count  and  two  of  his  men,  who  occupied  the  rear 
canoe,  saw  nothing  but  hostile  demonstrations  in  the  movements  of 
their  pursuei*s,  and,  following  their  companions,  vanished  also  from 
sight. 

Although  disheartened  by  these  frequent  disappointments,  the 
anxious  voyagers  did  not  intermit  their  efforts,  and  on  reaching  the 
bend  in  the  river  had  the  satisfaction  to  perceive  that  the  rear  boat 
of  the  fugitives,  for  such  it  is  proper  to  call  Carlton's  company,  was 
less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant  from  them.  The  sun,  however, 
was  down,  and  in  their  haste  to  pass  the  intervening  point,  they  had 
done  so  at  a  proximity  to  the  shore  which  did  not  give  them  the 
full  advantage  even  of  the  diminished  light  that  remained.  AVhat 
was  their  consternation,  while  now  exultingly  sure  of  success,  to 
behold  one  of  the  soldiers  rise  in  the  stern  of  his  boat,  and  carefully 
aim  his  carabine  towards  them !  A  moment  of  horrible  suspense 
ensued,  during  which  the  Lynx  and  Harry  dropped  to  the  bottom 
of  the  boat;  and  Henrich,  conscious  that  there  was  no  time  to  induce 
the  ladies  to  follow  their  example,  flung  himself  devotedly  before 
Blanche,  int<^rposing  his  body  as  a  shield  for  her  protection.  It  was 
the  work  of  an  instant — a  flash  and  report  succeeded,  and  the  heroic 
youth,  staggering  a  few  stei)s  backwards,  sank  wounded  to  a  seat. 

The  report  of  the  weapon  had  not  ceased  vibrating  on  the  ear, 
when  the  Lynx  again  had  possession  of  the  oars,  and  by  a  few  hght- 
ning-like  strokes  impelled  the  canoe  to  a  place  of  safety  near  the 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HTTRONS.  163 

shore  ;  having  done  which  he  sprang  to  the  side  of  Henrich,  about 
whom  the  other  inmates  of  the  vessel  were  ah-eady  assembled. 

"  Speak  to  us,  Mr.  Huntington,  for  the  love  of  Heaven,"  exclaimed 
Blanche,  kneeling  before  him  with  a  face  like  marble  ;  "  are  you — 
are  you  badly  hurt  ?" 

"See  to  yourselves,"  he  whispered  earnestly, — "they  will  fire 
again  !  do  not  heed  me — I  am  only  scratched." 

As  he  spoke,  however,  he  fell  into  the  arms  of  the  Huron,  who, 
continuing  to  uphold  him,  directed  Harry  to  bring  the  boat  to 
land. 

"  He  is  dead  !"  said  Blanche,  wildly,  "  he  is  dead,  Emily,  and  I 
am  the  cause  ;  oh,  that  we  had  never  ventured  upon  this  dreadful 
journey  !" 

"  He  is  not  dead,"  replied  Emily,  seeking  to  give  the  encourage- 
ment she  did  not  feel—"  he  has  only  fainted  ;"  and  stooping  to  the 
brink  of  the  river  she  dipped  water  with  her  hands,  and  threw  it 
upon  his  face,  but  without  effect ;  "  is  it  not  so  ?"  she  continued, 
addressing  the  Indian  with  tones  of  horror — "  surely,  surely  he  is 
not  dead  ?" 

"  We  shall  see,"  rephed  the  Lynx,  rising  as  the  boat  touched  the 
beach  and  gently  lifting  his  friend,  when  Harry  came  to  his  aid  and 
they  bore  their  comrade  to  the  shore,  and  laid  him  upon  the  grass. 
The  motion  revived  him  ;  he  opened  his  eyes,  smiled  re-assuringly, 
and  asked  for  water,  which  was  quickly  brought. 

"  Do  not  be  alarmed  for  me,"  he  said,  as  he  observed  the  agonized 
expression  of  his  friends  ;  "  I  believe  my  wound  is  slight,  but  I  am 
losing  some  blood — it  is  in  the  left  shoulder ;  leave  me  with  the 
Lynx  and  Harry  ;  the  sight  may  distress  you,  and  the  Indian  is  a 
safe  leech." 

Less  in  comphance  with  this  request,  than  for  the  purpose  of 
overcoming  a  tendency  to  faintness  which  she  now  became  aware  of, 
Blanche  stepped  to  the  water's  edge,  followed  by  Emily,  while  the 
Lynx  proceeded  gently  to  divest  Henrich  of  his  coat  and  waistcoat. 


164  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

HaAang  done  this,  he  dexterously  cut  the  sleeve  from  the  patient's 
shirt,  and  laid  bare  the  wound,  which  proved  to  be  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  arm,  near  the  shoulder  ;  and,  although  bleeding  pro- 
fusely, the  Indian  at  once  pronounced  it  to  be  in  no  wise  dangerous 
either  to  life  or  limb. 

This  opinion,  in  which  Huntington  placed  as  much  confidence  as 
if  it  had  proceeded  from  a  whole  board  of  the  medical  faculty,  he 
caused  Harry  at  once  to  communicate  to  the  ladies,  greatly  to  their 
relief.  The  ball  had,  fortunately,  passed  out  as  well  as  in,  and  as  bone 
and  artery  were  untouched,  nothing,  evidently,  but  good  care  was 
needed  to  prevent  serious  consequences.  Having  carefully  washed 
the  wound,  and  taken  ineans  to  avoid  any  unnecessary  effusion  of 
blood,  the  Lynx  left  Henrich  in  the  charge  of  their  companions,  and 
proceeded  to  cull  from  his  great  medicine  chest,  the  forest,  some 
simple  styptics  with  which  to  dress  it.  An  hour,  indeed,  had  not 
passed  from  the  time  of  landing  before  the  wounded  man,  nearly 
free  from  pain,  and  with  but  slightly  diminished  strength,  was  mov- 
ing about  among  his  friends,  chatting  gaily  on  the  subject  of  his 
accident. 

"  There  was  really  no  occasion  for  fainting,"  he  said ;  "  but  one  is 
entitled,  I  suppose,  to  make  something  of  an  ado  over  his  first 
wound  ;  and  then,  to  feel  the  blood  running  pretty  freely  without 
knowing  exactly  where  it  comes  from,  is  rather  startling ;  now,  if 
the  Lynx  had  received  that  hurt,  I  dare  say  we  should  have  known 
nothing  of  it  until  we  had  stopped  for  the  night,  moored  our  boat, 
and  eaten  our  supper ;  when  he  might  possibly  have  asked  for  a 
patch  or  a  bandage,  like  a  child  that  has  cut  its  finger ;  you  must 
really  excuse  me,  ladies,  and  I  will  try  to  be  shot  with  a  better 
grace  next  time." 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  165 


CHAPTER    XX. 

"  Over  weedy  fragments 
Thalaba  went  his  way, 
Cautious  he  trod,  and  felt 
The  dangerous  ground  before  him  with  his  bow. 

♦  *  *  * 

The  adder  in  her  haunts  disturbed. 
Lanced  at  the  intruding  staff  her  arrowy  tongue." — Southey. 

The  time  which  had  been  lost  to  the  voyagers  by  the  accident 
last  related  was  more  than  ordinarily  precious.  Every  breath  was 
removing  their  unconscious  friends  farther  from  them,  and  diminish- 
ing the  chances  of  a  junction  of  the  parties ;  for  it  could  scarcely  be 
doubted  that  Carlton  would  travel  without  stopping  during  the 
night  which  had  commenced.  The  Huron,  however,  seemed  never 
without  resource :  he  proposed,  if  his  friends  would  spare  him  for 
the  night,  to  follow  the  count  by  land,  seeming  confident,  not  only 
that  he  could  o\'ertake  the  boats,  but  that,  having  done  so,  he  could 
communicate  with  the  Algonquin  from  the  shore,  by  a  signal  which 
the  latter  could  not  fail  to  compi'ehend. 

The  proposition  seemed  plausible,  and  after  a  little  discussion  was 
generally  approved.  The  safety  of  the  party,  depending  at  all 
times  more  upon  vigilance  and  the  means  of  flight,  than  upon  any 
power  of  resistance,  was  not  materially  diminished  by  the  temporary 
withdrawal  of  the  Indian,  and  a  greater  risk  might  properly  have 
been  encountered  for  the  vast  advantage  which  it  promised.  The 
twilight  had  entirely  departed,  but  the  moon,  now  several  days  old, 
with  a  thousand  glimmering  stars,  afforded  a  light,  which  the  Lynx 


166  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

pronounced  more  suitable  for  his  purpose  than  any  other ;  and 
promising  to  return  before  sunrise  he  set  out  on  his  lonely  journey. 

"  He's  a  fool,  dat  Lynch  is,"  said  Harry,  making  his  appearance 
from  a  covert  of  bushes,  which  served  as  his  kitchen,  soon  after  the 
Indian's  departure — "  why  he  no  wait  for  supper,  fore  he  go  tram- 
poosing  'bout  de  country  all  night  ?  dare's  de  little  bass  a-most  done, 
and  part  o'  de  oder  ;  I  clean  'em  dreadful  nice ;  ony  smell ;"  and  the 
grateful  odor  that  came  from  the  bushes  fully  justified  the  negro's 
raptures. 

"  Are  you  sure,  Harry,"  asked  Henrich,  "  that  your  fire  cannot  be 
seen  from  the  outside  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  massa  Henrich,  de  bush  is  mighty  tick  all  ai'ound — 
more  fear  de  Injuns  smell  'em,  golly  !"  he  said,  taking  another 
relishing  sniff. 

Wearied  and  hungry,  the  travellers,  indeed,  were  not  backward 
in  doing  justice  to  their  forest  cheer,  and  Harry  Bolt,  although 
pertinaciously  dihgent  in  serving  until  Henrich  and  the  ladies  had 
supped,  acquitted  himself  afterwards  at  his  meal  as  if  he  thought 
the  absence  of  the  Lynx  imposed  upon  him  a  double  duty. 

Count  Carlton,  in  the  meanwhile,  was  steadily  pursuing  his  way, 
congratulating  himself  on  the  heroic  manner  in  which  he  had  beaten 
off  a  canoe-load  of  armed  Iroquois,  and  anticipating  the  glowing 
colors  in  which  the  achievement  would  shine,  if  he  were  fortunate 
enough  ever  again  to  set  foot  in  Castle  Montaigne.  Four  hours  after 
his  victory,  he  pressed  unremittingly  forward,  not  failing  to  remind 
his  men  that  if  he  left  the  enemy  in  possession  of  the  battle-ground, 
it  was  not  of  necessity,  but  quite  as  a  matter  of  pohcy. 

"  It  was  doubtless  a  chief  who  fell,  Mallory,"  he  said,  insinuatingly, 
to  the  man  who  had  fired,  "  judging  by  his  dress  and  air,  you 
know  ?" 

"  Yes, — certainly, — there  cannot  be  a  doubt,"  replied  the  man, 
speaking,  as  his  otficer  had  addressed  him,  in  French — "  and  I  think 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 


167 


he  was  just  preparing  to  fire  when  I  peppered  him — he  was  standing 
lip,  you  know." 

"  Cerfainly,  and  then  they  flew  so  quickly  to  cover,  which  they 
would  not  have  done  if  it  had  been  only  a  common  man  that  was 
killed — ah,  yes,  it  was  a  chief." 

But  if  Carlton  triumphed,  he  was  far  fi'om  being  at  ease,  for  he 
feared  he  should  have  a  full  fleet  of  boats  upon  him  before  he  could 
extricate  himself  from  so  dreadfully  hostile  a  region.  Some  rest, 
however  brief,  was  absolutely  necessary  to  his  men,  who  had  toiled 
for  many  hours,  and  at  about  midnight  he  encamped  upon  an  islet, 
not  greatly  larger  than  his  canoes,  situated  about  a  third  of  a  mile 
from  the  eastern  shore.  In  this  defensible  position,  he  allotted  two 
hours  to  repose,  and  the  Algonquin,  who  had  not  shared  in  the 
brilliant  engagement  of  the  evening,  was  his  sentinel. 

Scarcely  an  hour  later,  the  Lynx,  rapidly  threading  the  mazes  of 
the  forest,  arrived  at  a  point  on  the  main  land  about  opposite  to  the 
camp,  whence  he  discovered  the  island  and  saw  its  adaptation  to  the 
very  purpose  for  which  it  had  been  used.  Knowing,  however,  the 
count's  timidity,  he  scarcely  indulged  the  hope  that  the  latter  had 
stopped,  and  it  was  almost  without  checking  his  own  progress,  that 
he  placed  his  hands  beside  his  mouth,  and  sent  across  the  water  a 
long  shrill  cry,  peculiar  to  a  bird  of  the  northern  forest.  The 
Algonquin,  hke  his  friend,  was  awake  to  every  sight  and  sound  that 
reached  his  senses,  while  journeying  through  a  hostile  land,  but  more 
especially  now,  when  he  had  reason  to  hope  that  his  deserted 
brother  was  following  his  lost  companions,  and  seeking  to  rejoin 
them.  There  was  nothing  preconcerted  in  the  signal,  but  Anak  did 
not  M\  to  recognise  the  sound  as  one  which,  famihar  in  his  own 
forests,  he  had  not  heard  elsewhere  since  leaving  home  ;  he  leaped, 
therefore,  to  the  conclusion  that  his  friend  was  at  hand,  and  imme- 
diately returned  the  call  by  one  precisely  similar.  Delighted  at  this 
unexpected  result,  the  Lynx,  to  avoid  any  mistake,  repeated  the  cry, 


168  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

with  some  change  of  intonation,  and  again  the  answer  came  back 
hke  an  echo  from  the  island. 

The  overjoyed  sentinel  hastened  to  communicate  his  discovery  to 
the  count,  who  both  astonished  and  gTatified,  at  once  despatched  a 
boat  to  the  shore  to  bring  off  his  ally,  and  in  a  short  time  the  Huron 
was  in  the  camp,  receiving  the  heartiest  congratulations  of  his 
friends.  His  story  was  soon  told,  to  the  inexpressible  amazement  of 
his  hearers,  for  although  his  words  were  addressed  to  the  count,  his 
delighted  companions,  listening  and  questioning,  had  thronged, 
unreproved,  around  him. 

Carlton's  dominant  feeling  was  joy  at  the  arrival  of  Miss 
Montaigne,  and  in  this  emotion  was  merged,  for  the  time,  every 
sense  of  shame  and  mortification  which  his  own  pusillanimity,  in 
contrast  with  the  heroism  of  her  real  defenders,  seemed  calculated  to 
inspire.  To  return  successful  to  Castle  Montaigne,  was  the  great 
object  of  his  ambition  ;  this  being  done,  he  felt  himself  fully  compe- 
tent to  guard  his  reputation,  and  appropriate  to  himself  the  principal 
credit  of  the  achievement.  Success,  he  knew,  would  cancel  all 
errors,  for  no  one  would  look  critically  into  an  atfair  which  had 
terminated  with  eclat.  His  report  to  the  baron,  too,  while  it  vindi- 
cated his  own  valor,  and  with  ingenious  coloring  made  cowardice  pass 
for  prudence,  he  resolved  should  flatter  his  few  followers  by  encomiums 
on  themselves  into  the  fullest  acquiescence  with  his  story.  Half  of 
them  indeed,  cajoled  by  his  arts,  might  already  be  said  both  to  see 
and  hear  rather  with  the  senses  of  their  leader  than  with  theii-  own ; 
and  if  the  Indians  should  prove  more  impracticable,  they  at  least 
were  men  of  few  words,  who  would  be  httle  apt  to  thwart  his  views. 
As  to  the  ladies,  when  did  a  Frenchman  ever  distrust  his  power  to 
fascinate  and  control  the  mind  of  Beauty  ;  here,  at  least,  his  triumph 
would  be  com})lete  in  every  respect. 

Such  were  the  thouo-hts  of  Count  Carlton,  as,  with  rapid  flight, 
they  embraced,  even  wiiile  the  Lynx  was  speaking,  the  leading  tea- 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS,  169 

tures  of  liis  new  position  and  prospects.  One  circumstance  alone 
had  not  entered  into  liis  calculations,  because  he  had  not  fully  com- 
prehended the  Huron's  stoiy,  and  that  was  the  presence  of  a  young 
American  gentleman  among  the  escort  of  the  ladies. 

"  You  say  there  are  a  couple  of  negroes  with  you,  sachem,  eh  ?" 
he  said,  "  one  of  whom  we  have  been  unfortunate  enoufrh  to  shoot : 
he  is  not  mortally  wounded,  I  hope  ?" 

The  Lynx  explained  with  some  difficulty,  yet  failed  to  convey  to 
Carlton's  mind  any  distinct  idea  of  his  companion,  or  of  the  nature 
of  his  connexion  with  the  party. 

"  They  will,  doubtless,  want  our  escort  as  far  as  Fort  Albany,"  he 
continued,  "  when  they  shall  be  remunerated  and  dismissed ;  fi'om 
there  they  will  easily  find  their  way  home." 

No  time  was  now  lost  in  embarking,  and  seeking  out,  under  the 
guidance  of  the  Huron,  the  retreat  of  his  late  companions.  The 
sun,  indeed,  was  not  risen  when  Henrich,  who  was  the  sentinel  of 
his  party,  perceived  the  returning  canoes  with  emotions  which  he 
did  not  care  to  analyze,  but  in  which  joy  did  not  certainly  prepon- 
derate. He  immediately  communicated  the  intelligence  to  the 
ladies,  in  whose  extreme  delight  he  found  additional  cause  for  dis- 
content ;  and  when  next  he  proceeded  to  the  beach,  to  receive  the 
approaching  party,  it  was  only  with  a  strong  effort  that  he  overcame 
his  feelings  sufficiently  to  admit  of  his  usual  frank  and  open  deport- 
ment. 

Nothing  could  be  more  striking  than  the  contrast  in  the  appear- 
ance of  Carlton  and  Huntington,  as  the  first,  seated  in  the  leading 
canoe,  approached  the  shore,  and  the  latter,  standing  at  the  water's 
edge,  with  one  hand  resting  lightly  on  his  gun,  waited  to  meet  him. 
The  count  was  a  man  of  about  twenty-eight  years,  less  in  stature 
than  Henrich,  but  in  figure  equally  faultless.  His  countenance, 
dark,  but  not  unhandsome,  was  marred  by  a  sinister  expression, 
which,  to  a  ready  reader  of  the  human  visage,  was  3s  legible  as 
print,  but  which,  softened  by  an  attractive  smile,  was  easily  oyer- 

8 


170  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

looked.  His  eyes  were  perfectly  black  and  very  small,  possessing, 
of  themselves,  no  other  expression  tlian  that  of  aciiteness  and 
cunning,  while  his  forehead,  large  enough  for  beauty,  yet  not  for 
intellect,  was  shaded  by  clustering  hair  of  the  same  raven  hue. 
There  was  an  abiding  air  of  conceit,  not  only  in  his  foce,  but  in 
every  movement  of  his  person ;  and  this  it  was,  perhaps,  more  than 
anything  else,  that  constituted  the  repulsive  part  of  his  appearance, 
and  negati\'ed,  in  a  great  degTce,  all  his  personal  advantages. 
Henrich's  countenance  approached  to  some  of  the  nobler  models  of 
Grecian  manly  beauty  ;  and  if  it  had  a  fault,  it  was  the  almost 
feminine  whiteness  and  texture  of  his  skin.  His  expression  was 
placid  and  gentle,  but  there  was  a  latent  fire  in  his  large  blue  eyes, 
which  kindled  his  countenance,  at  times,  with  a  strange  animation, 
and  gave  token  of  unrevealed  energies  of  character. 

The  eyes  of  the  young  men  w^ere  riveted  upon  each  other  as  the 
boat  drew  near  to  land  ;  surprise  being  plainly  depicted  upon  Carl- 
ton's countenance,  accompanied  by  a  supercilious  and  authoritative 
air,  while  on  Henrich's  a  shght  disturbance  of  his  natural  expression 
scarcely  hinted  at  the  anxious  feelings  which  had  taken  possession  of 
his  breast.  The  count  had  not  yet  landed  when  he  addressed 
Huntington  in  a  sharp,  c[uick  voice,  with  the  inquiry  whether  he 
spoke  the  French  language,  to  which  the  latter,  greatly  to  the 
astonishment  of  the  other,  replied  in  the  affirmative,  giving  at  the 
same  time  the  best  proof  of  his  assertion,  by  the  fluency  and  well- 
modulated  accent  of  his  words.  He  next  demanded,  whether  the 
ladies  who  were  in  his  charge  were  safe,  and  where  they  were  to  be 
found ;  and  without  further  heed  of  Henrich,  after  receiving  his 
reply,  stepped  upon  the  shore  and  passed  to  their  presence. 

Miss  Montaigne's  education  in  her  fathers  language  had,  of 
course,  not  been  neglected,  and  she  was  able  to  converse  in  it,  not 
only  with  facility,  but  with  elegance,  while  even  Emily  had  taken 
pains  to  acquire  some  knowledge  of  a  dialect,  which  would  be  so 
necessary  in   her   future   abode.     The  count,  therefore,  found  no 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HlJRONS.  lYl 

difficulty  in  introducing  himself,  vvliicli  he  did  with  much  ease  and 
grace ;  and  relating  the  commission  bestowed  upon  him  by  Baron 
Montaigne,  inquired,  with  needless  ceremony,  whether  the  ladies 
were  willing  to  put  themselves  under  his  charge.  To  this  Blanche, 
of  coui*se,  rephed  affirmatively,  briefly  explaining  the  causes  which 
had  induced  her  to  set  out  under  a  dilTerent  escort,  and  not  forgetting 
to  bespeak  the  count's  favor  for  Mr.  Huntington,  a  young  gentleman 
to  whose  good  offices,  as  she  pointedly  remarked,  she  was  indebted 
for  her  rescue,  ^and  probably  for  the  preservation  of  her  life.  Gall 
and  wormwood  are  usually  considered  somewhat  bitter  commodities, 
but  they  would  have  been  sweet  to  the  Frenchman's  taste,  compared 
with  these  first  words  from  the  beautiful  lips  of  his  expected  bride. 
He  replied,  however,  with  perfect  complaisance ;  and  on  being  more 
directly  introduced  to  Henrich  by  Miss  Montaigne,  extended  his 
hand  to  that  young  man  with  a  condescending  air,  which  seemed  to 
imply  a  sense  of  having  fully  remunerated,  by  such  an  act  of  grace, 
all  the  services  of  the  other. 

A  morning  meal  was  now  prepared  from  the  ample  stores  of  the 
count,  in  which  even  the  luxuries  of  fi'uit  and  wine  were  not  wanting ; 
and  after  another  hour  devoted  to  the  repose  of  the  men,  the  whole 
party  prepared  to  re-embark.  The  larger  of  Carlton's  canoes  had 
been  fitted  up  with  some  attempt  at  elegance,  for  the  accommodation 
of  its  expected  guests,  and  to  this  vessel  he  gave  the  more  pretending 
name  of  barge,  a  w^ord  common  to  the  English  and  French  lan- 
guages. It  w^as,  of  course,  to  this  boat  that  Blanche  and  Emily 
were  conducted  by  their  new  friend ;  and  whatever  reluctance  the 
former  might  have  experienced  at  any  seeming  slight  being  thus 
offered  to  Huntington,  there  seemed  no  means  compatible  with 
maidenly  dehcacy  of  avoiding  it.  She  could  neither  ask  to  continue 
in  Henrich's  canoe,  nor  request  his  presence  in  the  count's ;  but  it 
was  enough  for  her  generous  friend  that  her  eye  met  his  with  an 
apologetic  glance  as  she  stepped  into  the  barge,  and  that,  unless 


172  THE     KING      OF     THE     HURON  8. 

indeed  an  eager  fancy  had  misled  him,  a  shght  suffusion  of  color 
tinged,  at  the  same  moment,  her  beautiful  cheeks. 

There  was  food  foi-  hope,  in  these  gentle  tokens  so  unwittingly- 
bestowed,  and  Henrieh  took  fresh  courage  under  circumstances 
which  seemed  far  from  favorable.  "  She  is  at  least  grateful  and 
noble-hearted,"  he  thought,  as  he  turned  to  his  deserted  boat,  "  she 
cannot  but  know  my  aspirations,  and  she  does  not  utterly  discourage 
them  1  What  can  she  more  ?  it  is  enough — if  she  loves  me,  she 
may  yet  be  mine,  despite  this  haughty  count." 

Two  of  the  soldiers  propelled  the  barge,  making  its  occupants, 
five  in  number  ;  a  third  was  with  the  Indians  in  the  Lynx's  boat, 
and  the  fourth,  at  the  Huron's  request,  too  openly  made  to  admit  of 
its  being  refused,  was  permitted  to  assist  in  conducting  Henrich's 
canoe.  Thus  they  proceeded  on  their  way,  with  some  vicissitudes 
and  alarms,  but  with  no  serious  molestation,  until  about  noon,  when 
the  Indians  having  given  notice  that  they  were  within  a  few  leagues 
of  Fort  Albany,  they  encamped  in  a  dense  wood  to  wait  for  the 
night. 

Admitted  once  more  to  the  society  of  his  friends,  after  his  seem- 
ingly long  exile,  Henrieh  recovered  his  natural  buoyant  spirits  which 
imparted  themselves  by  contagion  to  Blanche  and  Emily,  who 
passed  from  the  ceremonious  politeness  which  had  marked  their 
deportment  to  the  count,  to  the  opposite  extreme  of  unreserve  and 
hilarity.  The  dislike  with  which  Carlton  already  regarded  Hunting- 
ton grew  rapidly  under  such  fostering  influences  into  positive  hatred ; 
and  although  the  very  excess  of  his  hauteur  prevented  him  from 
manifesting  his  displeasure,  he  could  not  keep  from  his  countenance 
the  shadows  of  those  malign  clouds  which  were  passing  across  his 
heart.  This  new  offence  was  not,  indeed,  needed  to  produce  a  result 
already  predetermined  by  the  count,  but  it  gave  zest  to  his  contem- 
plated act,  and  caused  it,  perhaps,  to  be  invested  with  some  added 


THE      KINO      OF      THE      HURONS.  1*73 

It  was  with  surprise,  tlaougli  watliout  suspicion,  when  the  time  for 
re-embarking  arrived,  that  Henrich  beheld  some  singular  changes  in 
the  order  of  departure.  The  barge  was  despatched  first,  and  was  al- 
ready well  under  way  before  either  of  the  other  boats  was  permitted  to 
start ;  the  Lynx's  canoe  was  shoved  from  her  moorings,  and  lay  with 
extended  oars  awaiting  the  signal  to  move,  while,  strangest  of  all, 
the  Lynx  had  taken  the  count's  station  in  the  barge,-  and  the 
latter  stood  alone  upon  the  beach.  He  did  not  stand  long,  but 
having  watched  the  foremost  vessel  for  some  minutes,  turned  and 
walked  rapidly  towards  Henrich,  whom  he  addressed  with  elaborate 
politeness. 

"  We  shall  pass  Fort  Albany,  Mr.  Huntington,  before  we  again 
halt ;  whore  you  will  be  enabled  to  join  your  countrymen  in  safety ;  you 
have  my  thanks  and  those  of  the  ladies  for  your  services  and  good 
conduct,  which  shall  be  represented  to  General  Montaigne.  What- 
ever wages  your  man  will  accept,  I  shall  be  happy  in  behalf  of  the 
baron  to  pay,  having  done  which,  I  shall  have  the  honor  to  bid  you 
farewell." 

Henrich  hstened  to  these  words  with  the  utmost  astonishment, 
but  he  remembered  some  ominous  looks  of  his  companion,  which  he 
had  encountered  during  the  afternoon,  and  suspected,  without  seem- 
ing to  do  so,  the  deeper  meaning  involved. 

"  Count  Carlton  will  excuse  me,"  he  said  ;  "  I  have  no  design  of 
withdrawing  from  Miss  Montaigne's  escort,  or  of  ceasing  to  be  one  of 
her  defenders  until  she  reaches  Castle  :Montaigne ;  it  was  with  this 
intention  that  I  left  home." 

"  If  such  is   your  desire,"    replied   the   Frenchman,  "  I   regret 
extremely  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  gratify  it ;  I  have  no  authority 
to   introduce   strangers   into   Castle   Montaigne,    or    its   precincts, 
.  especially  from  an  enemy's  borders." 

"  You  shall  not  have  that  responsibility,  Sir  Count,"  answered 
Henrich  promptly ;    "  I  shall  venture  upon  the  French  domains  at 


174  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

my  own  risk,  and  shall  not  trespass,  I  assure  you,  uninvited,  on 
Baron  ISIontaigne's  hospitality." 

"Mr.  Huntington  has  certainly  the  right  to  invade  his  most 
Christian  Majesty's  dominions,  single-handed,  if  he  desires,"  replied 
Carlton,  somewhat  tartly,  "  but  he  must  not  expect  me  to  be  acces- 
sary to  such  an  enterprise.  To  be  brief,  sir,  for  time  presses,  you 
will  cease  to  be  connected  with  my  party,  on  reaching  Fort 
Albany." 

"  I  shall  not  cease  to  accomimny  it,  sir,"  said  Henrich,  haughtily, 
"  while  Miss  Montaigne  forms  one  of  its  members,  unless  at  her 
bidding  ;  I  do  not  resign  my  charge  so  hghtly." 

The  Frenchman's  voice  trembled  with  suppressed  passion,  when 
he  again  spoke,  but  the  remenlbrance  that  he  was  in  the  midst  of 
a  hostile  country,  and  that  he  was  acting  in  direct  contravention  of 
Miss  Montaigne's  wishes,  tempered  his  language. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,"  he  responded,  "  that  you  will  even  cease  to 
accompany  it.  The  present  number  of  my  men  and  boats  was  fixed 
after  mature  deliberation,  as  the  one  best  calculated  for  the  success 
of  my  mission ;  to  increase  the  number  of  the  vessels  one  half,  and 
of  men,  by  the  addition  of  two,  would  be  a  wide  departure  from  my 
instructions,  and  I  repeat  it,  cannot  be  permitted;  you,  yourself, 
must  perceive  the  additional  risk  it  would  cause  of  drawing  an 
enemy  upon  us." 

"  Count  Carlton,"  answered  Henrich,  "  if  these  objections  have 
really  any  weight,  they  can  be  obviated :  I  will  dismiss  my  man 
and  boat  opposite  the  fort,  and  will  proceed  in  the  Lynx's  canoe  ; 
otherwise — the  river  is  a  broad  one,  and  I  know  of  no  one  who  has 
the  right  to  forbid  my  navigating  it.  For  myself,  I  am  confident 
that  the  presence  of  myself  and  my  man,  even  in  a  third  boat,  will 
add  to  the  safety  of  the  ladies ;  and  my  continuing  of  your  party 
will,  therefore,  become  a  question  of  speed." 

"  It  may  become  a  question  of  strength,  young  man,"  answered 
Carlton  in  a  low  threatening  voice. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S.  l75 

"  It  may,  indeed,"  said  Ilenrich,  dauntlessly,  and  with  irrepressible 
wrath  ;  "  we  are  but  two  to  seven,  and  you  may  possibly  succeed  in 
adding  our  murder  to  your  already  brilliant  achievements  ;  but  we 
are  two  to  seven,  and,  believe  me,  we  will  not  fall  alone." 

Goaded  to  madness  by  treatment  at  once  so  unjust  and  despicable, 
Henrich's  whole  soul  breathed  a  spirit  of  the  most  perfect  defiance  ; 
he  stood  in  the  faint  moonlight,  proudly  erect,  with  eyes  that 
flashed  like  meteors,  unable  for  the  moment  to  restrain  the  ebul- 
litions of  his  rage.  Yet  the  folly  of  his  threatened  defence 
became  apparent  to  him,  even  as  he  ceased  speaking  ;  f(jr  the  safety 
of  Blanche  was  the  paramount  object  of  his  consideration,  and  he 
could,  of  course,  engage  in  no  actual  contest  with  her  defenders. 
The  threat,  however,  was  not  without  its  effect ;  the  count,  unused 
to  such  an  exhibition  of  feehng,  stood  for  a  moment  awed  by  the 
furious  spirit  which  he  had  evoked;  he  looked  hastily  over  his 
shoulder  to  make  sure  that  his  men  were  within  call,  and  then 
turned  to  reply  ;  the  subdued  tone  of  his  voice  and  the  mildness  of 
his  language  giving  no  token  of  the  malevolence  which  now  boiled 
within  his  breast. 

"  You  are  hasty,  Mr.  Huntington,"  he  said, — "  unnecessarily  so, 
I  think :  if  you  desire  a  seat  in  the  Lynx's  boat,  you  are  entirely 
welcome  to  it ;  but  let  us  waste  no  more  time,  the  barge  is  already 
well  advanced,  and  we  must  hasten  to  overtake  her." 

"  You  grant  all  that  I  require,"  returned  Henrich,  now  also  speak- 
ino-  mildly,  and  fearing  that  he  had  exhibited  an  unwarranted 
passion  ;  while  he  hesitated,  ingenuously  considering  whether  any 
retraction  or  explanation  was  proper  in  return  for  the  concession  of 
the  count,  the  latter  again  reminded  him  of  the  necessity  of  haste. 
He  accordingly  explained  the  new  state  of  affairs  to  Harry,  whom 
he  furnished  with  money  and  instructed  to  proceed  at  once  to 
Albany,  and  remain  there  until  some  descending  sloop  should  afford 
him  the  means  of  returning  in  safety  to  New  York.  He  also 
enjoined  upon  the  negro  the  strictest  secresy  in  regard  to  everything 


116  THE     KING      OP     THE      HFRONS. 

connected  with  the  escape  of  Miss  Montaigne  ;  and  giving  him  some 
kindly  messages  to  the  venerable  Jacobns,  bade  him  a  cordial  fare- 
well. Huntington's  gun  and  portmanteau  were  then  quickly 
transferred  to  the  other  canoe,  which  immediately  started,  followed 
at  some  distance  by  the  boat  of  the  solitary  African, 


THE     KING     0^     THE     HURON  6.  17T 


CHAPTER    XXL     . 

*'  O  monstrous  treacheiy  !  can  this  be  so  i 
That  in  alliance;  amity,  and  oaths 
There  should  be  found  such  false  dissembling  gUile  1" 

— First  part  of  King  llcnry  F'f. 

Candor  is  ever  the  victim  of  guile.  Suspicions  of  no  artific€l, 
Senrich  had  placed  himself  unreservedly  in  the  power  of  an  enemy^ 
to  whose  frigid  heart  relentings  were  as  unwont  as  thaws  amidst 
polar  ice.  Making  no  attempt  to  overtake  the  barge,  which  main- 
tained its  advanced  position  of  about  half  a  mile,  the  count  proceeded 
slowly  and  cautiously  on  his  way,  following  the  Lynx's  route,  and 
hugging  the  eastern  shore  as  he  approached  the  English  settlements 
Me  spoke  but  seldom,  and  not  at  all  to  Huntington,  who  attributed 
his  reserve  less  to  uncooled  wrath  than  to  the  desire  of  maintaining 
the  silence  necessary  to  their  situation* 

They  passed  Albany  a  little  after  midnight,  slightly  accelerating 
their  progress,  as  it  was  a  vicinity  of  unusual  danger ;  and  this 
might  have  been  a  sufficient  reason  for  the  count's  proceeding  yet 
five  weary  hours  longer  without  a  halt,  and  without  any  communi- 
cation with  the  forward  boat.  Yet  it  was  thought  strange,  when  at 
sunrise  he  ordered  the  Algonquin  to  steer  for  the  land,  that  no 
word  or  signal  was  passed  to  the  barge,  nay,  that  the  distance 
between  the  vessels  had  been  allowed  materially  to  widen,  and  that 
a  time  Was  chosen  for  stopping  when  the  other  boat  was  entirely  out 
of  view.  It  was  strange  in  seeming ;  but  when  Henrich  caught  the 
eye  of  Carlton  as  they  drew  near  the  shore  he  read  a  picture  of 

8* 


i^S  TME     KING      OF     THE     HURONS- 

malignant  triumph  in  its  flash,  which  revealed  at  once  the  whole 
fearful  secret.  The  grating  of  the  keel  upon  the  pebbled  beach  was 
accompanied  by  the  harsh,  quick  voice  of  the  Frenchman,  into  which 
a  tone  of  defiant  determination  was  thrown. 

"  We  leave  you  at  last,  Mr.  Huntington,"  he  said,  "  and  we  shall 
see  whether  my  authority  to  control  my  own  party  is  still  to  be 
disputed." 

"It  is  impossible,"  exclaimed  Henrich,  in  accents  husky  with 
horror  and  wrath,  "  that  you  can  contemplate  such  an  atrocity.  I 
am  here  at  your  bidding ;  your  faith  is  pledged  for  my  security ; 
reposing  on  that,  I  have  parted  with  my  attendant,  and  also  with 
the  only  means  of  safety  in  this  wilderness,  my  boat." 

"  It  would  be  safe  to  leave  so  valorous  a  man  in  possession  of  nei- 
ther," replied  Carlton  ;  "  it  is  untrue  that  I  have  given  you  any 
pledge  ;  my  httle  stratagem,  indeed,  was  almost  of  your  own* sug- 
gestion. I  said  that  you  were  welcome  to  a  seat  in  this  boat ;  and, 
indeed,  so  you  were,  most  heartily ;  but  I  did  not  say,  I  believe,  how 
far  your  voyage  m  it  should  extend." 

"  Count  Carlton,  this  is " 

"  Enough, — enough,  sir ;  I  have  no  disposition  to  argue  the  mat- 
ter "  said  Carlton,  taking  snuff  with  an  air  of  perfect  nonchalayice  ; 
"  you  will  have  ample  time  for  vituperation  on  shore ;  he  may  rail, 
you  know,  who  loses.     Joseph,  assist  the  gentleman  to  the  beach." 

The  man  who  was  addressed  seized  the  portmanteau  of  Hunting- 
ton, and  bore  it  to  the  shore ;  and  while  the  latter  was  ao-ain  about 
to  remonstrate,  the  low  voice  of  the  Algonquin,  who  sat  nearest  him, 
reached  his  ears  ;  but  scarcely  a  few  rapid  words  of  the  Indian  were 
uttered,  when  he  was  interrupted  by  the  stern  glance  of  the  officer. 
Anak,  however,  undertook  to  intercede  for  the  young  man,  but  was 
at  once  silenced  by  the  count.  "  I  will  hear  nothing,"  he  said ;  "  and 
the  man  who  speaks  for  him  shall  be  put  under  arrest, — we  have 
had  words  enough.     Now,  sir,  are  you  ready  ?  " 

"  Count  Carlton,"  exclaimed  Henrich,  still  unwilhng  to  abandon  a 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS, 


179 


hope  that  some  returning  sense  of  justice  would  actuate  the  latter, 
"  I  may  not  dyscend  to  entreaty,  but  let  me  appeal  once  more  to 
your  sense  of  honor.     You  are " 

"  Young  man,"  said  Carlton,  not  unwilling  to  add  the  sting  of 
taunts,  to  his  act,  "  I  have  said  that  all  words  are  useless ;  your  con- 
duct v/ould  justify  me  in  far  harsher  measures,  which  I  forbear  in 
consideration  of  some  slight  assistance  you  are  said  to  have  given  the 
Lynx  in  rescuing  Miss  Montaigne ;  but  your  presumption  has  more 
than  cancelled  your  services,  and  your  actual  mutiny,  since  being 
attached  to  my  company,  is  deserving  of  death ;  go,  therefore,  and 
remember  that  you  owe  your  life  to  my  clemency." 

"  I  could  commit  no  mutiny  in  disobeying  orders  to  which  I  was 
never  subject ;  I  claimed  but  the  right  to  navigate  this  highway  of 
nature  with  my  own  boat  and  by  my  own  hands.  What  are  the 
means  by  which  you  seek  to  prevent  me  ?  Let  me  say,  that  the 
extreme  resort  to  which  you  have  alluded  would  have  been  far  more 
becoming  an  officer  of  the  French  army." 

"  If  you  prefer  such  an  alternative,  you  may,  perhaps,  even  yet 
succeed  in  procuring  it,"  said  the  count ;  "  but  I  spare  you.  And 
now,  sir,  once  more  I  must  remind  you  that  I  have  no  time  for  argu- 
ment; you  can  continue  your  remarks,  if  you  please,  upon  the  shore, 
and  will  pardon  us,  I  hope,  if  we  should  not  feel  ourselves  at  leisure 
to  remain  your  auditors." 

Further  expostulation  was  evidently  useless,  and  Henrich  passed 
to  the  bow  of  the  boat  for  the  purpose  of  landing.  In  doing  so,  he 
came  close  to  the  count,  ^vho  was  also  standing,  and  paused  for  a 
moment,  confronting  him,  while  a  sudden  pallor  marked  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  latter. 

"  I  go,"  said  Huntington,  "  but  not  without  proclaiming  you  the 
coward  and  villain  which  your  acts  have  proved." 
Saying  so,  he  stepped  to  the  shore. 
"  You  will  tempt  me  to  follow  you  with  a  brace  of  balls,  if  you 


180  THE     KING      OP     THE      HURONS. 

are  not  waiy,"  said  Carlton,  breathing  freer,  as  lie  saw  that  no  per- 
sonal violence  was  attempted.     "  Push  off,  my  boys  I " 

"  I  do  not  think  you  dare  even  do  that ! "  answered  Henricb, 
wrought  to  that  desperation  which  sees  no  terror  in  death,  and 
drawing  at  the  same  time  a  pistol  from  his  belt ;  he  stood  scarce  six 
feet  from  his  adversary,  as  he  spoke,  and  the  latter,  utterly  cowed 
by  the  words  and  manner  of  Huntington,  forbore  reply  until  the 
moving  boat  had  placed  a  distance  of  several  additional  yards  be- 
tween them. 

"  You  hold  your  hfe  lightly,  yonng  man,"  he  said,  at  length,  while 
the  canoe  continued  to  recede  ;  "  it  is  well  for  you  that  others  have 
more  regard  for  it." 

Huntington  made  no  response ;  he  was  incapable  of  descending  to 
mere  ^dtuperation,  and  the  fervor  of  wrath  was  already  gi^ang  way 
to  the  painfiil  consciousness  of  his  position. 

Carlton  continued  his  voyage  three  additional  hours,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  his  party  were  permitted  to  stop  on  the  eastern  shore  for 
repose.  With  smiling  visage  and  unusual  blandness  of  demeanor, 
he  here  rejoined  the  ladies,  and  apologized  for  his  temporary  separa- 
tion from  them,  alleging  that  the  desire  of  occupying  the  post  of 
danger,  in  case  of  pursuit  from  the  fort,  had  induced  him  to  proceed 
in  the  second  boat ;  and  that,  his  apprehensions  of  peril  from  that 
source  being  now  past,  he  should  resume  his  former  place. 

Blanche  and  Emily  gave  no  evidence  of  requiring  to  be  appeased, 
but  replied,  as  usual,  with  politeness.  They  looked  occasionally 
down  the  river  for  Henrich's  canoe,  but  supposing  it  to  be  at  hand, 
made  no  direct  inquiry,  until,  their  morning  meal  being  in  readiness, 
they  were  invited,  as  usual,  by  the  count,  to  partake  of  it. 

"  You  forg-et  that  our  company  are  not  yet  all  present,"  replied 
Blanche,  glancing  again  towards  the  river;  "Mr.  Huntington  wilt 
think  lightly  of  our  civihty,  if  we  commence  our  meal  before  he 
arrives." 

"  You  remind  me  of  my  omissions,"  returned  Carlton  ;    "  I  forgot 


THE     KING     OF     THE      HUROJJS.  ISl 

to  inform  you  that  we  have  parted  company  with  yonr  friend,  and 

that  I  am  charged  with  his  adieux  to  yourself  and  Miss  Roselle " 

"  His  adieux  !  Mr.  Huntington's  adieux ! "  exclaimed  Blanche, 
unguardedly,  and  with  a  look  of  utter  astonishment,  not  unblended 
with  a  bitterer  feeling ;  "  you  siuely  are  jesting.  Count  Carlton  ;  he 
could  not  have  left  us  without  bidding  us  farewell  in  person." 

"  I  do  not  jest,"  the  count  replied,  adding,  with  a  sarcastic  tone, 
"  but  if  I  had  dreamed  of  the  intelligence  being  so  unpleasant  to  Miss 
Montaigne,  I  would  have  divulged  it  less  abruptly," 

"  It  is  unpleasant,  indeed,"  answered  Blanche,  "  to  believe  that 
Mr.  Huntington  could  have  been  capable  of  so  much  incivility; 
perhaps,  however,  there  is  some  explanation,  and  I  have  judged  him 
harshly." 

"  There  is  an  explanation,  I  believe,  to  the  benefit  of  which  he  is 
entitled,  if  any  is  necessary,"  responded  Carlton.  "  When  we  em- 
'marked,  last  evening,  he  doubtless  expected  to  see  you  again ;  he 
was  not,  I  beheve,  aware  that  we  were  so  near  Albany,  which,  as  the 
northernmost  English  settlement,  and  one  which  will  aftbrd  him  the 
means  of  a  safe  return  to  his  home,  was,  you  will  perceive,  very 
appropriately  his  stopping-place." 

"  I  am  happy  that  he  has  grown  so  prudent,"  said  Blanche,  smil- 
ing, and  fearful  that  she  had  exhibited  too  deep  an  interest  in  the 
event ;  "  we  will  proceed,  if  you  please,  to  our  meal." 

Anxious  to  repair  the  error  of  a  moment  of  surprise.  Miss  Mon- 
taigne preserved  a  forced  vivacity  of  spirits  during  the  remainder  of 
their  stay  upon  shore,  and  it  wtis  not  imtil  they  were  once  more  em- 
barked, that  she  dared  recur  in  thought  to  a  subject  which  proved  so 
exciting  to  her  mind.  She  had  never  analyzed  her  sentiments  towards 
Henrich,  and  knew  little  in  reality,  even  at  this  moment,  of  their 
true  character  ;  but  whatever  they  might  be,  she  was  both  mortified 
and  grieved  at  his  conduct,  which  remained  inexplicable,  save  by  the 
merest  conjecture.  Generous  in  her  judgments,  her  vacillating 
thouo'hts  settled,  at  length,  upon  the  conviction  that  she  had  given 


182  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

him  cause  for  sei-ious  offence,  and  she  resolved  not  to  add  to  his 
wrongs  by  censuring  his  manly  resentment.  A  still  more  painful 
appreliension,  which  at  times  displaced  her  more  settled  opinion, 
was,  that  the  very  wound  which  he  had  received  in  her  defence, 
aggravated  by  exposure  and  fatigue,  had  compelled  him  to  desert 
the  party  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  medical  aid  in  the  settlement 
which  they  had  passed.  Whichever  of  these  \-iews  she  adopted,  it 
was  coupled  with  the  conviction  that  she  should  never  meet  her 
benefector  again,  nor  be  able  to  repair  her  injustice  towards  him ; 
and  this  reflection,  if  not  her  only  source  of  disquiet,  was  the  only 
one  w^hich  her  self-respect  would  allow  her  to  recognise. 

The  last  prolonged  stage  of  the  voyagers'  journey  had  rendered  a 
corresponding  proportion  of  rest  necessary  to  them,  and  it  was  now 
nearly  noon  w^hen  they  again  resumed  their  way.  While  they  had 
remained  encamped,  Carlton  had  been  haunted  by  some  vague  fears 
that  Henrich  might  follow  and  overtake  them  still,  if  it  were  only  to 
make  known  his  wrongs  to  those  of  the  party  who  had  so  much 
reason  to  be  his  friends.  How  such  a  useless  feat  could  be  accom- 
plished, even  if  Huntington  had  had  the  hardihood  to  undertake  it, 
he  did  not  pause  to  reflect;  for  he  had  warily  landed  upon  the 
opposite  shore  from  that  on  which  he  had  deserted  Henrich,  and  in 
a^  place  admitting  of 'close  seclusion  from  any  distant  view  ;  but  it 
was  only  now,  when  his  barge  w^-is  again  gliding  rapidly  forward, 
that  he  became  altogether  free  from  apprehension. 

His  next  stage  was  nearly  as  long  as  the  one  preceding,  and  was 
made  w^ith  equal  rapidity  ;  for  he  was  resolved  to  incur  no  further 
danger  of  re-union  with  his  rival.  Eight  hours  he  proceeded  with  a 
happy  consciousness  that  not  even  an  Indian  pedestrian  could  ha\'e 
made  equal  progress  among  the  impediments  of  a  pathless  wilder- 
ness, much  less  a  man  unused  to  forest  life.  It  was  only  when 
night  had  again  descended  upon  the  earth,  that  he  ventured  to  take 
such  full  repose  as  the  wearied  energies  of  his  men  required ;  he 
encamped  near  the  point  where  his  route,  leaving  the  Hudson, 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS,  183 

entered  an  adjacent  creek,  and  led  eastward  to  Lake  George ;  or  to 
give  that  beautiful  sheet  of  water  the  benefit  of  all  its  names,  Chris- 
tian, practical,  and  poetical,  Lake  Horicon,  or  the  Lake  of  the  Holy 
Sacrament. 


184  THE     KIHG     O^     THE     H-uRO?rg, 


CHAPTER    XXIL 

"  O'er  the  glimmering  wave  he  hied  him, 
Where  the  Bu/ford  reared  her  sail, 
With  three  thousand  ghosts  beside  him, 
And  in  groans  did  Vernon  hail." — Richard  6l«vcf. 

It  was  near  sunset  on  the  day  slieceeding  the  events  last  rehited, 
that  the  travellers,  having  gained  Lake  George  in  safety,  were 
passing  near  a  prominent  cape  or  headland  on  its  eastern  shore, 
when  the  apparition  of  a  solitary  Indian,  standing  motionless  upon 
its  summit,  attracted  general  attention,  and  excited  no  little  alarmi 
He  was  evidently  watching  the  approaching  party;  and,  as  his 
elevated  position  exhibited  his  tall,  manly  figure  in  distinct  relief 
against  the  sky,  it  seemed  to  assume  vaster  proportions  than  those 
of  humanity,  and  awakened  superstitious  fears  in  some  of  the  be- 
holders. 

"  It's  such  a  sight  as  I  have  been  looking  for,''  said  Mallory,  in  a 
mysterious  whisper  to  one  of  his  fellow-soldiers ;  "  this  is  called  the 
haunted  lake,  and  these  high  hills  have  been  for  ages  the  burying- 
place  of  the  Indians :  look  closely  and  you'll  see  him  fade  into  mist 
in  a  moment,  and  float  away." 

"  After  which,"  replied  Francis,  to  whom  these  words  had  been 
addressed,  "  we  may  look  for  thunder  and  lightning,  I  suppose  ;  it 
may  be  as  you  say,  but  ghosts  don't  often  carry  guns,  and  yonder 
fellow,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  has  one  which  might  trouble  us,  even 
at  this  distance,  if  he  chose  to  use  it." 

"  It's  mere  vapor,  I  tell  you,"  responded  the  other,  more  earnestly, 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  185 

"  like  their  spirit  canoes,  which  are  often  seen  at  midnight  on  these 
very  ^Yate^s  ;  why,  when  the  great  Iroquois  chief,  Whirlwind,  was 
killed,  many  years  ago,  in  the  first  battle  with  the  old  Marquis  Vaii- 
dreiiil,  who  was  in  his  prime  then,  the  sachem's  body  was  carried 
down  this  lake,  by  night,  in  a  canoe,  followed  by  not  more  than  a 
dozen  real  boats, — for  his  men  were  cut  np,  and  scattered,  like 
foxes  in  the  forest ;  but,  sir,  those  who  saw  it  told  me,  with  lips 
whiter  than  yonder  foam,  there  was  a  fleet  of  canoes  in  that  pro- 
cession which  no  man  could  number ;  it  reached  from  shore  to 
shore,  besides  being  miles  in  lengih,  and  every  one  was  filled  with 
forms  which  held  up  waihng  hands,  and '  their  sighs  swelled  into  a 
breeze  that  shook  the  lake  till  it  rocked  like  a  cradle :  they  were  the 
dead  warriors  of  the  nation  for  many  generations." 

"  It  may  be  so,"  again  responded  Francis,  more  seriously ;  "  at 
any  rate,  it  won't  do  to  make  fun  of  Satan  in  his  own  territory ;  if 
he  sees  fit  to  give  these  Iroquois  ghasts  a  furlough,  now  and  then,  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  a  friend,  why  that's  his  business  and  none  of 
mine  ;  but  as  to  this  gentleman  on  the  hill " 

"  Holy  mother  ! — he's  gone  !"  interrupted  Mallory,  g-azing  with  a 
look  of  fear  upon  the  spot  so  suddenly  vacated, — "  and  as  I  told 
you, — into  the  air ;  I  think  it  gTows  darker,  and  the  wind  comes 
strangely  here  oflf  the  shore — hark  ! — was  not  that  thunder  f 

"  It  may  be  so — there  has  been  a  heavy  cloud  in  the  south-west 
this  last  half  hour." 

"  Aye — aye — ever  since  he  made  his  appearance  ;  and,  perhaps, 
by  this  time  he  is  on  its  back,  gniiding  it  down  the  lake,  as  if  he  had 
bit  and  bridle  upon  it ;  thanks  to  St.  Francis,  we  are  not  far  from 
shore — ^but  what  will  that  avail  us  ?  we  may  be  in  the  middle  of 
the  lake  in  a  twinkling — aye,  and  at  the  lx>ttom  of  it,  too." 

If  the  phantom  of  the  hill  had  anything  to  do  with  the  storm 
which  was  now  spring*ing  up,  it  was  a  sj^irit  of  no  little  potency. 
The  cloud  which  Francis  had  pointed  out,  rose  rapidly  towards  the 
zenith,  followed  by  successive  layers  of  tlie  same  tenebrious  hue, 


186  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

which  seemed  to  unfold  themselves  from  some  exhaustless  treasury 
beneath  the  horizon,  and  which  ex|)anded  in  every  direction,  with  no 
apparent  diminution  of  their  density.  As  the  black  canopy  came 
sailino-  northward  the  wave  grew  darker  in  its  path,  and  the  rippling 
waters  in  the  distance  told  that  the  wind  w^as  brushing  their  suiface, 
and  waking  them  into  life;  the  lightning  began  to  dart  in  long 
chain-like  streaks  across  the  sky,  and  the  moaning  thunder  came 
faintly  as  yet,  but  threateningly  to  the  ear. 

While  Carlton,  envkoned  between  two  varieties  of  peril,  hesitated 
what  course  to  pursue,  the  increasing  fury  of  the  storm  scarcely  left 
him  the  privilege  of  a  choice.  The  darkness  almost  of  night  was 
gathering  around  him  ;  the  wind  had  become  a  gale,  and  was  vio- 
lently rocking  his  boats  ;  the  lake  was  rolling  in  long  ridge-like 
undulations ;  while  the  electrical  flashes,  prolonged  and  painfully 
vivid,  were  followed,  or  rather  accompanied  by  detonations,  which 
now  in  stunning  cannon-like  reports,  and  now  in  long  bellowing 
peals,  shook  the  air  with  little  intermission,  and  added  an  awful  sub- 
limity to  the  scene.  The  alarmed  ladies  implored  to  be  taken  to 
the  shore  ;  and  Carlton,  scarcely  less  disconcerted,  issued  the 
necessary  orders  for  that  purpose ;  but  as  the  boats,  guided  with 
difficulty,  were  progressing  slowly  towards  the  nearest  beach,  there 
was  the  sound  of  a  terrific  explosion  seemingly  in  their  very  path, 
shaking  the  waters  like  an  earthquake,  and  a  towering  oak,  riven  to 
its  base,  fell  quivering  across  the  margin  of  the  lake.  Shrieks  of 
alarm  arose  from  the  ladies,  and  Mallory,  dropping  his  oar,  fell  upon 
his  knees,  calling  on  a  hundred  saints  for  help,  and  pointing  at 
intervals  of  his  hasty  prayers  towards  the  hill. 

"  I  said  it ! — I  said  it !  St.  Francis  defend  us  !  he's  there  again, 
— see — see,  he's  calling  for  another  thunderbolt,  and  pointing 
towards  us  :  St.  James  and  St.  Peter,  orate  2^7-0  nobis  P^ 

All  eyes  were  turned  towards  the  hill,  where  a  singular  sight, 
indeed,  was  beheld,  which,  to  the  excited  imagination  of  the  spec- 
tators, seemed  almost  to  justify  the  fears  of  the  soldier.     The  Indian 


THE      KITs^G      OF      THE      HURONS.  187 

had  re-appeared  nearly  at  the  spot  which  he  had  occupied  when  first 
discovered,  but  he  was  no  longer  motionless  as  before  ;  on  the  con- 
trary, he  was  making  the  most  frantic  gestures,  throwing  his  arms 
violently  into  the  air,  now  singly  and  now  together,  and  anon  point- 
ing towards  the  forest,  nearly  in  the  direction  of  the  fallen  tree.  A 
long,  whistling  call  was  at  the  same  moment  heard  from  the  Lynx's 
boat,  which  had  been  following  the  barge  at  a  short  remove  ;  and, 
on  turning  to  learn  its  meaning,  the  count  discovered  that  the  canoe 
had  turned  back,  and  was  proceeding  rapidly  towards  the  centre  of 
the  lake.  Utterly  bewildered  by  these  strange  events,  he  hesitated 
what  course  to  pursue  ;  he  was  within  thirty  yards  of  the  land,  and 
was  drifting,  by  the  action  of  the  waves,  rapidly  nearer ;  the  shrill 
whistling  continued  from  his  friends,  followed  now  by  loud  calls  and 
shouts ;  the  gestures  of  the  lone  Indian  grew  more  violent ;  and  ere 
he  had  decided  aught,  twenty  Iroquois  warriors  sprang  from  a  covert, 
and  rushed  to  the  water's  edge. 

It  was  a  moment  of  unmitigated  horror.  Francis  and  Mallory, 
unordered,  regained  their  oars,  and  brought  the  boat  quickly  around  ; 
but  several  of  the  savages  had  rushed  meanwhile  into  the  shallow 
water,  with  the  view  of  seizing  the  vessel  and  forcing  it  to  the  land, 
while  others,  with  presented  weapons,  stood  on  the  beach  waiting 
the  issue  of  the  attempt.  There  seemed  no  possible  escape  ;  the 
count,  whose  hands  alone  were  disengaged,  appeared  paralyzed  with 
fear,  and  unconscious  that  there  were  three  loaded  guns  lying  at  his 
feet ;  and,  to  add  to  the  terror  of  the  moment,  the  tall  Indian  on  the 
hill,  who  was  now  supposed  to  be  the  leader  of  the  band,  was  seen 
taking  deliberate  aim  with  his  rifle,  apparently  towards  the  barge. 
A  flash  and  report  succeeded  ;  but  instead  of  the  shot  harming  the 
fug-itives,  as  they  fully  expected,  the  foremost  savage  was  seen  sud- 
denly to  leap  upwards  and  fall  back  into  the  lake,  crimsoning  its  sur- 
face with  his  blood.  A  howl  of  fury  arose  from  his  comrades,  who 
turned  quickly  around  to  look  for  their  unknown  enemy  ;  but  the 
spot  where  he  had  stood  was  vacant,  although  the  smoke  of  his  gun 


l«y  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

was  yet  curling  around  it.  At  the  next  instant  a  sliot  issued  from 
the  Lynx's  boat,  which  also  proved  fatal  to  one  of  the  assailants,  the 
remainder  of  whom,  finding  themselves,  as  they  supposed,  between 
two  parties  of  their  foes,  hastened  back  to  their  cover,  to  plan  some 
safer  mode  of  attack. 

Ignorant  how  numerous  or  how  near  might  be  the  party  in  their 
rear,  they  were  fortunately  afraid  to  expend  their  fire  upon  the 
retreating  barge,  the  occupants  of  which  could  otherwise  scarcely 
have  escaped  complete  destruction.  Still,  one  of  the  few  balls  which 
were  discharged  towards  them  shghtly  wounded  Francis,  and  a  second 
j^ierced  the  boat  scarcely  a  foot  from  where  Carlton  was  crouching  to 
avoid  the  dreaded  missiles.  Blanche  and  Emily,  being  in  the  fore 
part  of  the  vessel,  were  partly  sheltered  by  the  oarsmen,  by  whose 
advice  they  had  taken  a  recumbent  and  comparatively  unexposed 
position.  It  was  maay  minutes,  howevw,  before  the  boat  attained 
a  safe  offing,  and  occasional  shots  continued  to  be  fii'ed  from  the 
shore,  and  returned  by  the  Lynx  and  Algonquin  ;  but  the  roughness 
of  the  water  and  the  dancing  motion  of  the  canoes,  preventing  any 
distinct  aim  in  either  direction,  rendered  them  innocuous. 

The  storm  was  still  raging,  although,  in  \iew  of  the  gi-eater  peril, 
it  had  been  for  some  minutes  nearly  unnoticed  by  the  voyagers  ; 
but,  hke  most  sudden  tempests,  its  fury  was  soon  expended,  and  the 
boats  were  enabled  to  efiect  a  junction  for  the  purpose  of  consultation 
on  future  movements.  The  companions  met,  deeply  impressed  with 
a  sense  of  the  danger  they  had  so  narrowly  escaped,  and  of  that 
which  still  impended  over  them  ;  for  they  were  yet  more  than  a 
hundred  miles  from  the  southern  line  of  the  French  territor}^,  and 
the  war  party  which  was  now  on  their  track  was  evidently  of  a  most 
formidable  character. 

"  How  was  it,"  asked  Carlton  of  the  Lynx,  "  that  you  became 
aware  of  the  ambuscade  at  so  timely  a  moment  ? " 

"  Did  you  not  see  him  ?"  responded  the  Huron  ;  "  the  Indian  on 
the  hill,  warning  us  to  keep  oft"  the  shore  2 " 


THE     KING     OF     THE      HURONS.  189 

"  Ah,  yes ;  I  remember  now  that  his  gestures  were  those  of  warn- 
incr,  thouo'h  he  seemed  Hke  some  madman  at  the  time,  and  he  did 
us  vast  service  with  his  gun ;  but  who  can  he  be,  and  how  is  it  that 
he  befriends  us  ? " 

The  Lynx  rephed  that  he  might  be  some  stray  hunter  from  the 
north— a  Huron,  perhaps,  or  Algonquin — and  that  if  so,  he  would 
doubtless  join  them  before  morning.  H 

Night  was  fast  closing  in,  and  the  anxious  countenances  of  Blanche 
and  Emily  showed  that  they  looked  forward  to  its  events  with  the 
most  painful  forebodings.  Miss  Montaigne  experienced  that  fearful 
sinking  of  the  spirits  which  seems  like  a  presentiment  of  calamity ; 
she  had  felt,  ever  since  Huntington's  departure,  such  utter  loneliness 
as  the  absence  of  one  only  congenial  companion  in  the  hour  of  adver- 
sity is  calculated  to  produce ;  but  now,  when  unwonted  perils  w^ere 
besetting  her,  how  would  her  desolate  heart  have  welcomed  the 
presence  of  one  whose  courage  and  hope  were  so  exuberant  and  so 
contagious,  and  whose  single  arm  had  seemed  hke  a  very  host  for 
her  defence.  Bitter  and  irrepressible  tears  were  Blanche's,  welhng 
profusely  from  a  heart  which,  whatever  had  been  its  previous  lessons 
of  suffering,  had  now  found  "  in  lowest  depths  a  lower  deep "  of 
grief. 

The  consultation  resulted  in  a  decision  to  retrace  their  route  and 
proceed  towards  the  south  until  the  darkness  should  conceal  their 
movements,  when  they  would  resume  their  northward  course, 
scarcely  expecting,  howevei-,  thus  to  deceive  an  enemy  to  whom  wiles 
and  artifices  were  the  familiar  events  of  life.  Their  chief  hope  con- 
sisted in  the  probability  that  their  pursuers  were  unprovided  with 
boats  ;  for,  if  such  was  the  case,  the  voyagers  could  set  them  quite  at 
defiance  during  that  part  of  their  journey  which  was  confined  to  the 
lakes.  But  between  the  Horicon  and  Champlain  was  an  interval  of 
several  miles,  which  was  to  be  traversed  by  means  of  a  narrow  creek, 
and  the  passage  would  be  rendered  trebly  perilous  by  the  necessity 
of  vacating  their  canoes  at  several  points  and  dragging  them  across 


190  THE      KIKG      OF      THE      H  U  R  0  If  S  . 

the  shallow  and  unnavigable  stream.  The  existence  of  this  trap-like 
locality  was,  of  course,  well  known  to  the  Iroquois  warriors,  and  httle 
doubt  could  be  entertained  that  they  would  seek  to  avail  themselves 
of  its  advantages. 

It  had  been  a  question  with  the  fugitives,  for  a  moment,  whether 
they  should  not  avoid  an  instant's  loss  of  time,  and  set  out  openly 
for  the  foot  of  the  lake,  with  a  ^^ew  of  outstripping  their  piu'suers, 
and  passing  the  dangerous  strait  before  the  latter  could  reach  it ;  but 
it  was  believed  that  the  contemplated  ruse  w^ould  render  the  enemy 
sufficiently  uncertain  of  their  route  to  compel  a  division  of  his  forces, 
and  thus  render  a  conflict,  if  it  could  not  be  avoided,  less  unequal. 
The  night,  too,  was  deepening  so  rapidly  that  httle  delay  could  be 
occasioned  by  the  experiment,  and  the  darkness  promised  to  be  such 
as  to  be  a  serious  impediment  to  the  foe  in  their  march  through  the 
woods.  Acting  upon  the  plan  which  had  been  concerted,  the  travel- 
lers proceeded  southward  about  half  an  hour,  at  the  end  of  which 
time,  the  evening  being  sufficiently  advanced  to  hide  their  move- 
ments, they  again  changed  their  course,  and  rowed  rapidly  but 
silently  down  the  lake. 

The  boats  kept  near  each  other,  and  when  they  came  opposite  the 
scene  of  their  recent  danger,  the  Lynx  obtained  permission  to  ap- 
proach towards  the  shore  and  make  an  effort  to  bring  oflf  the  myste- 
^rious  hunter  who  had  rendered  them  such  signal  service,  and  who,  it 
was  thought,  might  have  valuable  intelligence  to  impart.  Great 
caution  was  necessary  in  this  attempt,  and  the  count  indulged  but 
little  hope  of  its  success ;  not  so,  however,  his  oarsmen,  who  knew 
more  of  Indian  tactics. 

"  He'll  find  him,  sir, — the  Lynx  will,"  said  Francis,  who,  in  times 
of  unusual  excitement,  expressed  an  occasional  opinion  without  re- 
proof; "he'll  find  him,  sir,  as  if  it  were  daylight;  there's  a  sort  of 
free-masonry  among  them,  sir,  as  I  told  you  ;  by  and  by  you'll  hear 
a  whip-po-will,  mayhap,  or  a  tree-toad,  or  perhaps  only  a  cricket's 
chirp,  and  it  will  be  answered  on  the  shore, — and  there  he  is,  sir, — 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S.  191 

ai]d  he'll  plunge  into  the  lake  and  swim  out  to  the  boat,  croaking 
now  and  then  like  a  bnll-frog,  to  show  his  course ;  ah,  they're  cute 
fellows,  these  savages  are,  sir ;  there's  a  sort  of  free-masonry  among 
them,  as  I  said,  sir." 

Francis's  predictions  did  not  prove  to  be  incorrect ;  W'hatever  had 
been  the  means  resorted  to  by  the  Lynx  to  accomplish  his  purpose, 
he  rejoined  the  barge  in  a  short  time  accompanied  by  the  stranger, 
who  proved,  he  said,  to  be  a  Huron  hunter,  know^n  as  the  Beaver, 
and  who  brought  the  alarming  intelligence  that  the  whole  band  of 
the  Iroquois  had  set  out  for  the  outlet  of  the  lake.  The  haste  and 
excitement  which  this  information  occasioned  left  little  time  foi"  atten- 
tion to  its  bearer,  who  conversed  only  in  an  Indian  dialect,  and  whom 
ilie  count  did  not,  in  consequence,  personally  question. 


192  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 


CHAPTER     XXIII. 

«' Through  the  trees  tierce  eyeballs  glowed, 

Dark  human  forms  in  moonshine  showed, 

Wild  from  their  native  wilderness, 

With  painted  limbs  and  battle  dress  V'—Whiltier. 

A  NIGHT  of  excessive  anxiety,  of  frequent  alarms,  and  of  the 
most  wearying  labor  at  the  oars,  brought  the  travellers  near  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  lake,  not,  as  they  had  hoped,  while  it  was 
yet  dark,  but  just  as  the  grey  twilight  of  morning  was  diffusing 
itself  over  the  landscape.  A  fearful  uncertainty  prevailed  as  to  the 
position  of  the  enemy,  and  a  dread  that,  having  outstripped  the 
boats,  they  might  be  already  in  possession  of  the  dangerous  pass. 
That  they  had  followed,  or  preceded  the  voyagers,  night-long,  upon 
the  shore,  hke  a  pack  of  untiring  wolves,  no  doubt  was  entertained. 
It  would  have  been  hazardous,  however,  to  lose,  by  inaction,  their 
probable  advantage  of  precedence  in  the  race,  and  it  was  resolved  to 
press  forward  with  caution. 

The  canoe  containing  the  Indians  took  the  advance,  and  never 
were  eyes  more  faithfully  used  than  were  those  of  these  vigilant 
men,  which  seemed  to  pierce  the  very  depths  of  the  forest  on  every 
side,  overlooking  nothing,  and  never,  for  an  instant,  relaxing  their 
scrutiny.  But  everything  was  quiet.  They  approached,  and  glided 
silently  into  the  creek,  favored  by  its  current,  and  hoping  soon  to 
float  freely  upon  the  broad  bosom  of  the  lower  lake.  For  a  few 
miles  they  proceeded  rapidly,  noiselessly,  and  uninterrupted  ;  the 
silver  waters  of  the  Champlain  were  already  greeting,  from  afar, 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  103 

their  longing  eyes,  when  the  Lynx  leaped  suddenly  from  his  boat 
into  the  shallow  water,  followed  by  the  Algonquin  and  the  Beaver, 
all  of  whom  sprang  to  the  shore  with  their  weapons,  imploring  the 
oarsmen,  meanwhile,  to  quicken  their  speed.  This  sudden  move- 
ment, which  had  carried  terror  into  every  heart,  was  occasioned  by 
the  discovery  of  the  enemy,  about  half  a  mile  behind,  surmounting 
a  small  eminence,  and  running  rapidly  towards  the  travellers.  The 
ladies,  nearly  swooning  with  fear,  were  still  reUeved  to  see  that  the 
three  brave  men  stationed  themselves  on  the  shore  until  the  barge 
had  passed,  and  then  followed  the  boats,  thus  covering  their  retreat 
as  best  they  could. 

The  speed  of  the  vessels  Wiis  at  once  greatly  accelerated,  both 
because  the  leading  one  was  relieved  of  a  material  portion  of  its 
weight,  and  because  there  was  no  longer  need  of  precautions  to 
avoid  an  ambuscade  in  front.  The  enemy  were  behind,  and  all  that 
was  to  be  done  was  to  press  unremittingly  forward  with  the  hope  of 
reaching  the  lake,  and  attaining  a  safe  offing  before  the  pursuers 
gained  a  proximity  which  would  allow  them  to  make  a  fatal  use  of 
their  weapons.  The  headlong  velocity  of  the  foe  seemed,  indeed,  to 
manifest  a  consciousness  of  this  prospect  of  escape,  and  that  their 
only  chance  of  overtaking  the  fugitives  was  the  present  rapidly 
receding  o[)portunity.  The  count,  with  pallid  Hps,  begged  tlie  ladies 
not  to  be  alarmed,  manifesting  his  own  fears,  meanwhile,  by  the 
most  earnest  and  ill-judged  commands  to  the  faithful  oarsmen  to 
increase  exertions,  which  seemed  already  like  superhuman  efforts  of 
activity  and  strength. 

The  Iroquois  warriors  had  vanished  from  view  after  overcoming 
the  hill  on  which  they  had  been  discovered,  and  having  not  yet 
re-appeared,  their  remoteness  could  only  be  matter  of  conjecture. 
There  was  something  awful  in  this  uncertainty  as  to  their  position, 
and  in  the  thought  that  their  stunning  war-whoop  might  burst  upon 
the  ears  of  the  fugitives  at  any  moment,  and  from  any  quarter. 
The  tortuous  course  of  the  creek,  indeed,  gave  the  enemy  a  material 

9 


194  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

advantage  of  distance  ;  for  they  were  able  to  ford  the  water  at  ahnost 
any  point,  and  thus  preserve  a  comparatively  straight  line  of  march. 
But  the  widening  channel  of  the  stream  began  to  give  token  of  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  long  coveted  lake ;  and  the  boats,  flying 
still  more  rapidly  forward,  seemed  to  partake  of  the  fear  which 
influenced  their  occupants,  and  to  leap,  with  living  impulse,  across 
the  wave. 

The  creek,  near  its  mouth,  divided  around  a  small  island  which 
the  canoes  passed  on  the  southern  side,  after  which  the  leading  one 
stopped  to  take  in  the  Indians,  while  the  so  called  barge  pressed  on 
and  took  the  advance.  In  two  minutes  more  both  had  emerged 
from  the  creek  into  the  lake,  simultaneously  with  the  outbreaking  of 
a  prolonged  yell  from  the  foe,  which  seemed  to  be  made  up  of  all 
the  horrid  noises  that  ever  woke  the  echoes  of  Pandemonium.  All 
eyes  were  turned  towards  the  forest,  where,  darting  like  shadows 
past  the  trees,  the  dusky  warriors  were  seen,  scarcely  a  hundi'ed 
rods  distant,  on  the  margin  of  the  creek.  But  the  same  moment 
revealed  another  sight,  more  alarming  to  the  three  brave  men,  who 
now  virtually  commanded  the  fugitive  party,  and  who  composed  its 
principal  strength ;  a  sight  but  for  which  they  would  have  laughed 
at  the  idle  rage  of  their  enemy,  and  sent  back  shouts  of  defiance  to 
the  shore.  A  scream  from  the  ladies,  more  vigilant  than  their  com- 
panion, told  that  they  also  perceived  the  new  danger,  and  the  words, 
"  the  boats  !  the  boats  !"  resounded  suddenly  on  every  side. 

Three  batteaux  lay  moored  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  little 
island,  affording  the  Iroquois  the  means  of  pursuit  in  the  water,  which 
the  travellers  could  scarcely  hope  to  elude  :  for  the  long  war-boats 
were  provided  with  triple  sets  of  oars,  and,  when  fully  manned, 
could  be  impelled  with  nearly  the  speed  of  steam.  It  was  evident 
now  that  the  enemy  had  been  on  a  hunting  excursion,  from  which 
they  had  been  diverted  by  the  accidental  discovery  of  the  northern 
party ;  that  they  belonged  to  some  tribe  dwelhng  about  the  southern 
borders  of  the  Champlain,  was  also  probable,  whence  they  had  come 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HUR0N8.  195 

up  to  tlie  neighborhood  of  the  Horicon,  to  avail  themselves  of  its 
well-stocked  forests  of  game. 

A  moment,  nay  but  a  very  breath  of  hesitation  marked  the  con- 
duct of  the  Lynx,  after  which  he  ordered  the  oarsmen  to  row  to  the 
batteaux :  one  of  the  men,  trembling  with  terror,  flatly  refused,  but 
the  word  of  mutiny  was  scarcely  uttered,  ere  the  gleaming  knife  of 
the  Huron  was  at  his  breast.  The  awed  soldier  saw  only  death  on 
either  hand  :  imploring  mercy,  he  quickly  yielded,  and  mth  his 
comrade,  bent  to  the  oars  Avith  a  desperate  earnestness  that  showed 
the  most  excessive  consternation.  A  dozen  strokes  brought  the 
canoe  alongside  the  enemy's  vessels,  when  the  Lynx  and  his  two 
brave  associates  leaped,  knife  in  hand,  to  the  shore,  and  quickly 
severing  the  bark  withes  which  fastened  the  two  nearer  boats,  pushed 
them  off  the  beach.  They  next  darted  to  the  third  vessel  with 
a  similar  intent,  but  it  had  been  drawn  so  far  upon  the  shore,  as  to 
defy  their  hasty  efforts  at  removal.  There  was  clearly  no  time  to 
call  the  soldiers  to  their  aid,  for  the  yelping  pack,  incited  to  new  fury 
by  the  sight,  were  making  the  woods  ring  with  their  rage,  while 
"  brake,  bush,  and  brier,"  snapped  and  crackled  in  their  pathway  as 
they  rushed  impetuously  onward.  Seizing,  therefore,  the  oars  of  the 
third  vessel,  and  the  bark  bow-ropes  of  the  two  which  they  had 
loosened,  the  Indians  bounded  back  to  their  canoe,  and  bade  the 
oarsmen  pull  for  their  hves.  The  ropes  of  the  captive  boats  were 
intrusted  to  the  Algonquin,  while  the  Lynx  and  the  Beaver  seized 
their  rifles  and  sat  ready  to  fire  at  the  first  exposure  of  a  foe  ;  the 
barge  having,  meanwhile,  attained  a  place  of  present  safety,  beyond 
the  reach  of  musket-shot  from  the  land. 

The  necessity  of  towing  the  batteaux,  of  course  greatly  impeded 
the  canoe,  and  it  was  yet  ^vithin  thirty  rods  of  the  shore,  when  the 
enemy  arrived  breathless  on  the  beach,  and  flew  severally  to  cover 
behind  the  outermost  trees.  Well  was  it  that  they  were  breathless, 
and  that  their  excited  nerves  and  trembhng  tendons  prevented  a 
close  or  steady  aim,  for  their  guns  were  at  once  protruding  from  a 


196  THE     KING      OF     THE     HUH  OX  S. 

dozen  points,  and  a  volley  of  balls  came  hissing  towards  the  seemingly 
doomed  party,  whose  utmost  efforts  had  yet  left  them  within  the 
dangerous  \-icimty.  Foreseeing  the  coming  storm,  they  had  stooped 
to  the  gunwale  for  shelter,  but  the  hurtling  missiles  fell  like  hail  in 
their  midst,  w^ounding  both  the  Algonquin  and  one  of  the  soldiers, 
and  opening  some  dangerous  seams  in  their  little  bark. 

Shouting  back  defiance,  the  Lynx  and  Beaver  leaped  severally  into 
a  batteau,  and  throwing  themselves  prostrate  within,  presented  their 
weapons  towards  the  enemy,  waiting  for  the  moment  when  the  latter 
should  expose  themselves  to  Aiew,  by  an  attempt  to  reload.  The 
threat  forced  the  cowardly  assailants  to  seek  a  deeper  cover  until  they 
had  re-charged  their  guns,  wath  which,  as  it  now  became  e\ddent, 
they  were  not  all  equipped — a  third,  at  least,  of  !he  party,  ha^dng 
only  knives  and  hatchets,  harmless,  of  course,  at  such  a  distance. 
This  division  of  the  band,  however,  performed  extra  duty  in  swelling 
the  immelodious  concert  which  rang  through  the  forest  arches  at 
intervals  of  a  few  seconds,  and  which  came  back  in  wailing  echoes 
from  the  far  distant  shores.  The  wound  of  the  oarsman  was  slight, 
and  though  ehciting  many  moans,  did  not  disable  him  or  induce 
him  to  relinquish  his  task,  while  that  of  the  Algonquin,  though  moi-e 
serious,  was  only  proclaimed  by  the  trickling  current  which  ran  down 
his  naked  arm,  adding  another  hue  to  its  diversified  colors. 

The  boats  continued  to  recede,  and  before  the  foe  were  prepared 
to  fire  a  second  round,  full  twenty  rods  were  added  to  the  distance 
between  the  parties  ;  the  vigilant  Lynx  gave  timely  warning  of  the 
renewed  danger :  every  man  was  again  prostrate,  and  the  only  injury 
effected  was  that  of  boring  a  few  holes  in  the  batteaux,  and  makinsf 
a  considerable  rent  in  one  of  the  leggins  of  the  Beaver,  a  casualty  at 
which  that  brave  warrior  seemed  singularly  disconcerted,  and  which 
he  took  evident  pains  to  conceal. 

The  immediate  peril  was  now  considered  past ;  another  minute 
placed  the  retreating  boat  beyond  the  reach  of  probable  harm  from  the 
shore :  the  leaks  in  the  canoe  were  stopped,   and,  although  another 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 


19t 


volley  was  fired,  the  balls  skipped  with  spent  strength,  idly  along  the 
water.  The  canoe  in  a  few  minutes  rejoined  the  barge,  which  was 
awaiting  its  approach  about  a  mile  from  the  land,  and  the  inmates 
of  which  had  watched  with  harrowing  anxiety  the  recent  perilous 
adventure.  Miss  Montaigne  eagerly  inquired  if  any  of  the  brave  men 
were  killed  or  mortally  wounded,  for  it  had  seemed  impossible  that 
all  should  escape,  and  when  informed  that  no  serious  harm  was  done, 
she  manifested  the  utmost  delight.  Impatient  of  the  count's  faint 
commendation  of  his  comrades,  she  assured  the  gratified  Lynx  that 
his  brilliant  exploit  should  be  faithfully  reported  to  the  Baron  Mon- 
taigne, and  expressing  her  earnest  thanks  also  to  the  Algonquin,  she 
requested  them  to  make  her  language  known  to  the  heroic  stranger 
who  had  so  efficiently  aided  them,  and  whose  invaluable  services  to 
the  whole  party  on  the  preceding  day  should  not,  she  said,  be  over- 
looked. The  Lynx  uttered  a  few  sentences  in  an  Indian  dialect  to 
the  Beaver,  who  answered  it  by  smiling  and  looking  a  moment  at 
Blanche  with  eyes  that  seemed  eloquent  of  gratitude. 

These,  however,  were  the  hasty  occurrences  of  the  first  moment  of 
meeting,  for  the  peril  was  still  far  too  imminent  to  admit  of  wasting 
time  in  inaction.  No  doubt  was  entertained  that  the  enemy  would 
be  in  pursuit  as  soon  as  they  could  construct  new  oars  for  their 
remaining  batteau,  a  labor  which  would  not  detain  them  at  the 
farthest,  beyond  two  hours,  and  as  they  could  throw  a  dozen  men 
into  this  boat,  who  could  relieve  each  other,  by  turns,  in  rowing, 
their  lost  time  would  speedily  be  retrieved.  A  hasty  consultation  of 
the  fugitives  resulted,  therefore,  in  the  resolution  to  destroy  all  their 
boats,  excepting  one  of  the  prizes,  which,  when  their  party  was  con- 
solidated, would  be  fully  manned,  and  would  offer  the  most  probable 
means  of  successful  flight.  The  necessary  changes  were  speedily 
made,  and  the  three  vessels,  including  the  decorated  barge,  having 
been  shattered  and  rendered  useless  by  the  active  tomahawks  of  the 
Indians,  were  left  drifting  in  fragments  on  the  wave,  while  the  long 
batteau  impelled  by  six  strong  oarsmen  leaped  forward  with  a  most 


198  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

encouraging  velocity.  For  many  hours  everything  promised  success  ; 
the  day  v,^ore  on  until  the  sun  had  attained  half  its  meridian  altitude, 
and  yet  not  the  faintest  trace  of  pursuit  could  be  perceived. 

The  relieved  travellers  were  beginning  to  congratulate  themselves 
on  being  entirely  rid  of  their  adversaries,  when  a  small  spot  made  its 
appearance  on  the  southern  horizon  of  sky  and  water,  which  grew 
gradually  in  size,  and  soon  took  shape  as  the  dreaded  batteau.  The 
enemy  was  again  on  the  track,  blood-hound  like,  untiring,  unpelding, 
prepared  for  the  deathly  combat,  prepared  to  hunt  their  expected 
prey  with  ^•indictive  ferocity,  by  night  and  by  day,  through  the  long 
wilderness  of  water  which  yet  lay  extended  between  them  and  their 
coveted  home ;  prepared  to  send  their  frequent  war-cry  over  lake 
and  land,  until  the  peopled  forests  should  send  forth  their  ro^^ng 
bands  to  assist  in  securing  the  common  foe. 

The  prospect  of  the  fugitives,  indeed,  grew  suddenly  dark,  they 
evidently  could  not  long  maintain  their  advance  of  a  vessel,  the 
oarsmen  of  which,  by  frequent  changes,  were  continually  fi*esh  at  their 
work,  and  which  had  already  given  such  ample  proof  of  its  superior 
speed.  If  they  could  keep  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns  until 
evening,  their  escape  might  possibly  be  effected,  but  the  night  was 
yet  eight  hours  distant,  and  the  batteau  was  coming  down  like  the 
wind,  in  their  path.  Frequent  consultations  between  the  Lynx  and  the 
Algonquin  manifested  their  uneasiness,  and  communicated  additional 
alarm  to  their  companions,  and  the  ladies,  disheartened  by  the  oft- 
recurring  danger,  scarcely  disguised  their  growing  despondency. 

The  Beaver  alone  seemed  entirely  at  ease,  and  labored  silently  at 
his  oar,  without  ajjpearing  to  partake  of  the  excitement  which  pre- 
vailed around  him.  His  post  was  at  one  of  the  aft  oars,  and  nearest 
to  the  count  and  the  ladies.  Blanche,  indeed,  was  directly  in  front 
of  him,  and  sought,  from  time  to  time,  to  gain  courage  by  a  perusal 
of  his  composed  features,  which,  whether  they  betokened  stoicism  or 
hope,  seemed  gradually  to  impart  a  portion  of  their  equanimity  to 
her  mind. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HUKONS.  199 

By  mid-day  the  enemy  had  approached  to  within  a  mile  of  the 
chase,  and  the  imminence  of  the  danger  could  no  longer  be  dis- 
guised. The  disparity  in  the  numbers  of  the  two  parties  would  not 
of  itself  have  been  sufficient  to  cause  the  brave  defenders  of  Miss 
Montaigne  to  seek  to  avoid  the  engagement,  but  the  personal  peril  to 
which  a  contest  must  expose  Blanche  and  her  cousin,  and  the  great 
danger  of  drawing  other  foes  upon  them  by  the  tumult  of  a  fight^ 
impelled  them  to  practise  "  the  better  part  of  valor "  while  it  was 
possible  so  to  do.  Carlton  scarcely  assumed  longer  to  control  the 
actions  of  the  party ;  the  Lynx's  suggestions,  which  usually  included 
the  concurring  opinions  of  the  Algonquin  and  the  Beaver,  met  with 
a  complaisant  acquiescence  at  his  hands,  although  accompanied  by 
some  feeble  manifestations  of  a  conceit  which  fear  had  not  fully  para- 
lyzed. Anxious  now,  l^owever,  to  anticipate  what  he  thought  must 
be  the  inevitable  decision  of  his  dusky  council,  and  thus  be  able  to 
claim  one  important  movement  as  his  own,  he  said,  after  a  long,  ear- 
nest look  at  the  foe, — 

"  I  think  we  must  soon  take  to  the  shore,  and  fight  them  from  a 
cover ;  here  they  can  choose  their  own  distance,  and  have  every 
advantage  of  us.     What  says  the  Lynx  ?" 

The  Huron  differed  from  his  superior.  "  If  we  land,  they  will 
land,"  he  said ;  "  they  are  twelve, — we  are  three  ;  these,"  he  con- 
tinued, pointing  to  the  soldiers,  "  would  be  children  at  a  bush-fight ; 
here  they  are  brave  men." 

The  Algonquin,  who  was  next  appealed  to,  seemed  undecided ;  he 
only  answered,  "  Wait  and  see ;"  while  the  Beaver,  whose  opinion 
was  asked  by  the  Lynx,  at  Carlton's  request,  rephed  promptly  to  his 
querist,  in  an  Indian  tongue,  but  in  many  more  sentences  than 
seemed  necessary  to  convey  the  few  ideas  which  the  Huron  gave  as 
the  substance  of  his  sentiments. 

"  He  says,  '  fear  nothing,  and  go  on  !' "  said  the  Lynx. 
Thus  overruled,  the  count,  whose  anxiety  for  safety  overcame  all 
other  considerations,  quietly  acceded  to  the  voice  of  the  majority. 


200  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

The  confident  air  of  the  strange  hunter  continued  to  attract  attention, 
and  Blanche  still  found  herself  fi-equently  gazing  at  his  calm  counte- 
nance, to  glean  from  it  the  signs  of  hope  which  she  could  not  else- 
where discern.  When  the  piirsuers  had  approached  within  about 
two  thirds  of  a  mile,  he  relinquished  his  oar  and  again  muttered  a 
few  words  to  the  Lynx. 

"  What  says  he  ? "  eagerly  asked  the  count,  who  had  begun  to 
regard  the  stranger  with  singular  awe  and  deference. 

"  He  says,  '  let  the  men  rest ;  let  the  boat  stand  still,'  "  replied  the 
Huron,  ceasing  his  labors  as  he  spoke  ;  the  other  oarsmen  followed 
his  example,  and  the  batteau  stopped,  while  Carlton,  lost  in  wonder, 
made  no  reply. 

The  Beaver  looked  for  some  moments  at  the  approaching  vessel 
without  comment;  its  occupants  had  raised  a  shout  as  they  saw  the 
pause  of  their  enemy,  who,  they  doubtless  supposed,  had  stopped 
from  exhaustion,  and  towards  whom  they  now  rushed  with  increasing 
velocity.  Scarcely  half  a  mile  soon  separated  them  from  the  fugi- 
tives, and  anon  this  distance  was  reduced  to  little  more  than  a  third ; 
yet  still  the  Indian  gazed  calmly  and  unmoved. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  do  not  let  us  wait  longer,"  exclaimed  Emily ; 
"  I  shall  die  of  terror,  if  we  stay  here." 

The  Beaver  raised  his  gun  as  she  spoke,  and  after  taking  a 
careful  aim  for  a  few  seconds,  lowered  it,  as  if  in  doubt. 

"  It  is  folly  to  fire  yet !"  exclaimed  the  count,  who  Avas  used  to  the 
imperfect  weapons  of  that  age ;  "it  is  but  a  ^vaste  of  lead." 

The  stranger,  unheeding,  again  drew  up  his  piece,  and  this  time 
his  eye  lighted  with  a  vi\id  glow,  that  seemed  to  proclaim  success  ; 
he  fired,  and  a  quick,  violent  commotion  in  the  enemy's  boat  told  the 
eflfect.  The  vigilant  Lynx  pronounced  it  most  assuredly  fatal ;  he 
had  even  seen  the  victim  bound  upwards  and  fall,  and  then  remain 
prostrate  and  struggling.  The  enemy  sent  back  a  yell  of  wrath,  and 
rushed  forward  with  new  impetus  to  bring  the  fugitives  within  the 
more  limited  range  of  their  own  weapons.     A  few  minutes  would 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  201 

have  sufficed  for  this  purpose,  if  the  latter  had  remained  stationary ; 
and  probably,  at  their  now  furious  rate  of  progress,  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  would  have  effected  it,  despite  the  utmost  efforts  of  their  ad- 
versaries. But  no  sooner  had  the  Beaver  discharged  his  piece  than 
he  bade  the  Lynx  proceed  with  haste  ;  and,  while  the  now  refreshed 
oarsmen  resumed  their  task,  he  quickly  reloaded  his  gun.  Again,  at 
his  bidding,  they  stopped,  and  again  the  fatal  weapon  poured  forth 
its  fearful  missile,  bringing  back  the  very  death-screech  of  its  victim 
to  their  ears. 

"  Keei^  them  there  /"  said  the  marksman  to  his  friend  ;  and  again 
the  boat  rushed  onwards,  while  the  undaunted  Iroquois,  yelling  with 
insane  rage,  discharged  a  useless  volley  and  continued  their  mad 
career. 

Unwilling  to  increase  their  danger  by  adding  to  the  necessary 
noise  of  the  contest,  the  Lynx  and  Algonquin  refrained  with  diffi- 
culty from  sending  forth  derisive  and  defiant  shouts  to  their  antago- 
nists ;  but  they  chanted  their  low  taunts  to  their  moving  oars,  and 
sang,  in  improvised  verse,  the  praises  of  the  mountain  hunter  and 
his  enchanted  gun.  The  count,  too,  was  lavish,  for  once,  of  com- 
mendation of  their  gallant  champion,  on  whom  every  eye  rested  with 
admiration,  and  whose  words  and  gestures  became  a  law  to  regulate 
their  movements. 

A  third  time  did  the  stranger  hold  up  his  finger  as  a  signal  to 
stop  the  boat ;  and  as  the  long,  slender  tube  was  once  more  pomted 
portentously  southward,  the  frightened  Iroquois  were  seen  to  crouch 
on  every  side,  several  even  leaping  into  the  water,  to  escape  the 
winged  messenger  of  death.  The  effect  of  the  shot  could  not  be 
accurately  ascertained,  the  foe  having  probably  learned  more  discre- 
tion than  to  reveal  their  loss ;  but  as  the  ball  did  not  strike  the 
water,  it  was  supposed  to  have  found  a  human  target.  Another 
volley  was  instantly  returned  fi'om  the  enemy,  and,  to  the  utter  con- 
sternation of  the  fugitives,  the  Lynx  bounded  suddenly  upwards  and 
fell  prostrate  in  the  boat,  while  a  prolonged  shout  of  triumph  arose 


202  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

from  the  pursuers,  making  the  very  forest  ring  with  its  reverberating 
notes.  A  horror,  intense  and  awfal,  fell  upon  the  httle  party,  who 
had  su]3posed  themselves  as  yet  entirely  beyond  the  reach  of  their 
antagonists'  weapons,  and  who  saw  in  this  fearful  event  what  seemed 
but  the  beginning  of  a  tragedy  which  could  end  only  with  their 
lives.  The  count  and  several  of  the  men  sprang  to  the  side  of  the 
Huron,  and  Blanche,  utterly  appalled  at  the  sight,  with  difficulty 
refrained  from  swooning,  when  the  trembling  voice  of  Emily  was 
heard  at  her  side. 

"  Look  at  the  Beaver,"  she  said  ;  "  the  cold,  heartless  wretch  !" 
Blanche's  eyes  turned  to  the  stranger,  who,  heedless  of  his  friend's 
misfortune,  was  reloading  his  rifle  with  the  utmost  composure, — 
and  not  only  so,  but  his  whole  countenance  was  wreathed  into  a 
smile  of  merriment,  that  seemed  an  extraordinary  illustration  of 
savage  stoicism.  There  was  little,  however,  that  was  remarkable  in 
the  Indian's  conduct;  he  had  seen  the  spent  balls  of  the  enemy 
leaping  hke  skipped  stones  across  the  water,  and  sinking  into  the 
lake  at  a  furlong's  distance,  and  he  knew  full  well  the  feint  of  his 
ally,  which,  to  the  general  delight  of  the  party,  was  at  the  next  mo- 
ment proclaimed  from  the  opposite  end  of  the  boat.  The  shrewd 
Huron,  exulting  inexpressibly  in  the  presence  of  the  extraordinary 
weapon  and  its  w'ielder,  which  were  doing  such  manifest  execution, 
had  feared  nothing  except  that  the  enemy  might  turn  back  disheart- 
ened, before  their  numbers  had  been  so  effectually  thinned  as  to 
prevent  future  danger  from  their  pursuit,  and,  to  give  Indian  nature 
its  due,  before  either  his  revenge  was  appeased,  or  his  love  of  martial 
glory  sufficiently  gratified.  It  was  therefore  only  as  a  lure  that  he 
had  practised  this  dissimulation,  and  he  was  now  compelled  to  use 
the  utmost  caution  in  reasserting  his  existence,  venturing  to  resume 
his  erect  position  only  when  well  shielded  by  his  comrades  from 
distant  observation,  and  laughing,  meanwhile,  with  much  glee,  at 
the  success  of  his  trick. 

The  commotion  had  not  yet  subsided,  when  the  marksman  once 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  203 

more  signified  that  lie  was  in  readiness ;  the  boat  was  restored  to 
perfect  stiHness,  and  every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  distant  foe,  to  watch 
the  eflfect  of  the  shot.  But  the  enemy  had  grown  wary,  and,  follow- 
ing the  example  of  the  few  who  had  before  found  safety  in  such  a 
resort,  they  now  leaped,  like  water-rats,  over  the  edge  of  the  batteau, 
leaving  but  a  single  man  in  the  vessel.  They  had  gone,  however,  in 
a  mass,  and  the  quick  eye  of  the  hunter  was  upon  them,  then-  gliding 
forms  and  the  commoved  wave  forming  together  a  wide  mark,  into 
the  centre  of  which  fell  the  hurtling  lead.  Two  quivering  arms  up- 
thrown,  clutching  vainly  at  the  void  air,  and  then  descending  slowly, 
strugglingly,  graspingly,  to  the  surface,  told  the  result.  The  sur- 
vivors climbed  quickly  back  to  their  posts,  but  consternation  per- 
vaded their  ranks ;  no  weapon  was  raised ;  no  oar  was  moved ; 
irresolution  and  indecision  seemed  to  mark  their  conduct.  Three  of 
their  number  were  slain,  and  the  magical  weapon  which  no  ingenuity 
could  elude,  was  again  in  course  of  preparation  for  its  fearful  work. 
No  subsequent  success  could  atone  to  them  for  such  slaughter ;  for 
an  Indian's  victory  is  scarcely  considered  worthy  of  the  name,  unless 
achieved  without  loss,  or  with  a  damage  vastly  disproportionate  to 
that  of  his  foe.  Their  inaction,  however,  was  but  momentary; 
another  futile  discharge  of  their  guns  succeeded,  and  then  their  dart- 
ing oars  were  suddenly  put  in  motion  ;  but  it  was  no  longer  in  pursuit. 
A  retreat,  inglorious  and  cowardly,  was  commenced,  and  severe, 
indeed,  was  the  prudential  self-denial  which  restrained  the  victors* 
shout  of  acclamation  at  the  sight. 

"  Follow  them  !  follow  the  Iroquois  dogs  ! "  exclaimed  the  Lynx, 
forgetting,  in  his  excitement,  that  he  was  not  in  command. 

"  Follow  them  ! "  cried  the  Algonquin  ;  "  don't  let  them  oflf  so !  '* 
And  tlie  eager  looks  of  the  Beaver  and  the  soldiers,  as  their  eyes 
turned  to  the  count,  proclaimed  a  similar  wish. 

"  Oh — ah — yes — certainly,  follow  them  by  all  means ! "  exclaimed 
Carlton,  in  a  tone  of  irresolution  quite  at  variance  with  his  words ; 
"  yes — decidedly ;  but  don't  go  too  near,  boys  ! " 


204  THE      KING      OF      THE      HUROMS. 

"  Ah,  no,  no ;  let  them  go,  if  they  will,  in  the  name  of  mercy,"  said 
Blanche,  appealing  to  the  count,  and  hoiTor-stricken  at  the  sight  she 
had  beheld ;  "  let  them  go,  for  their  sake  and  ours ;  the  blood  of 
these  fierce  men  is  warmed  by  the  strife,  and  they  will  surely  bring 
more  danger  upon  us." 

"  Yes,  certainly,"  said  the  count ;  "  that  is  to  say,  we  will  see,  you 
know,  presently." 

A  few  words  from  the  Lynx,  however,  satisfied  Miss  Montaigne 
that  her  forest  friends  were  not  acting  unwisely;  the  enemy,  he 
said,  would  come  back  wdth  the  night,  as  silent  as  its  shadows,  unless 
now  more  fully  chastised  ;  the  charmed  gun  would  then  be  no  de- 
fence, and  the  foe  might  even  succeed  in  finding  aUies  to  aid  them  ; 
nothing,  indeed,  was  more  certain  than  that  their  present  flight  was 
only  preparatory  to  some  safer  attack. 

The  chase,  indeed,  was  begun  with  zeal,  and  was  kept  up  until 
the  Beaver  had  thrice  again  discharged  his  weapon,  although  only 
once  with  any  evident  effect,  the  desperate  efforts  of  the  enemy  hav- 
ing soon  removed  them  beyond  reach.  The  voyagers  then  resumed 
their  way,  congratulating  themselves  greatly  on  their  present  escape, 
yet  not  a  little  uneasy  in  anticipation  of  the  future,  for  the  retreating- 
foe  had  not  failed  to  fill  the  air  with  the  most  appalling  cries,  which 
seemed  to  threaten  vengeance  in  some  shape  uj)on  their  conquerors. 


TI£E      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  205 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

"  Up  the  rude  crags,  whose  giant  masses  throw 
Eternal  shadows  o'er  the  glen  below  ; 
And  by  the  fall,  whose  many-tinctared  spray 
Half  in  a  mist  of  radiance  veils  its  way, 
He  holds  hia  venturous  track." 

Mrs.  Hemans. —  The  Menccrrage. 

Once  more  must  we  briefly  retrograde,  to  take  up  a  dangling  end 
of  our  narrative,  and  secure  it  to  the  main  body  of  facts.  It  would 
be  idle  to  seek  to  depict  the  emotions  of  the  deserted  Henrich,  as 
from  the  bank  of  the  Hudson,  and  on  the  edge  of  a  limitless  forest, 
he  watched  the  rapidly  receding  boat  of  the  perjfidious  count. 
"When  he  recovered  his  equanimity,  he  remembered,  as  w^e  sud- 
denly recall  by  day  some  forgotten  pa<?sage  of  a  dream,  the  few 
words  which  had  been  addressed  to  him  in  the  boat  by  the  Algon- 
quin Indian  :  "  Folloiu  until  ive  stojy,  and  ansioer  lokcn  you  hear  the 
corn-bird's  calV  They  had  made  but  slight  impression  on  him  at  the 
time,  and  even  now  seemed  little  worthy  of  heed ;  he  might  possi- 
bly, by  extraordinary  exertions,  keep  for  a  few  hours  within  view  of 
the  voyagers,  hut  there  could  be  no  hope  of  being  permitted  to  rejoin 
them  ;  for  although  both  the  Indians  seemed  disposed  to  favor  him, 
he  well  knew  that  neither  of  them  would  dare  to  openly  oppose 
their  leader.  Every  mile's  remove  from  Albany  also  increased  the 
difficulty  and  danger  of  retracing  his  route  to  that  city  ;  yet  he  did 
not  for  a  moment  hesitate  to  follow  the  advice  of  the  savage. 
"  Were  the  chance  a  thousand  times  less,"  he  said,  "  it  shall  not  be 
lost  throuo'h  doubt  or  inaction  of  mine." 


306  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

He  started  courageously  upon  his  journey,  keeping  near  the  shore, 
and  for  a  short  time  was  able  to  keep  the  count's  boat  within  view. 
It  was,  however,  only  by  the  most  exhausting  efforts  that  he  was 
enabled  to  do  so,  for  his  route  led  through  a  dense  and  pathless 
wood,  where  the  uneven  ground,  the  thick,  tangled  underbrush,  and 
the  low  sweeping  boughs,  with  their  profuse  foliage,  were  so  many 
impediments  to  speed.  His  fatigue,  indeed,  became  such,  before  he 
had  proceeded  a  mile,  as  to  render  his  undertaking  nearly  hopeless ; 
for  he  felt  certain  that  the  count  would  not  soon  land,  and  if  he  kept 
even  three  hours  afloat,  his  gain  over  the  pedestrian  would  be  far 
more  than  the  latter  could  probably  overcome  during  the  halting  of 
the  party.  In  addition  to  these  discouragements,  another  more 
formidable  still,  presented  itself  to  his  mind ;  he  had  been  left  upon 
the  western  shore,  and  Carlton  now  kept  a  little  east  of  the  centre  of 
the  river,  apparently  with  the  design  to  land  upon  that  side  of  the 
stream,  and  thus  prevent  all  possibility  of  being  overtaken  by  his 
injured  rival. 

Disheartened  by  the  seeming  inutility  of  his  efforts,  which  he  still 
resolved  not  to  intermit,  Henrich  had  paused  for  a  moment's  repose 
when  he  heard  with  much  alarm,  the  distinct  sound  of  approaching 
oars.  As  he  retreated  hastily  into  the  forest  to  avoid  this  new 
danger,  his  chafed  spirit  grew  desperate  under  the  thronging  dis- 
asters which  beset  him ;  for  he  seemed  to  be  ascending  the  very 
stairway  of  grief,  where  each  successive  trouble  proved  but  the 
stepi)ing  stone  to  another,  higher  and  more  insurmountiible.  But 
words  cannot  portray  his  utter  astonishment  and  delight,  when,  on 
attaining  a  safe  post  of  observation,  he  discovered,  approaching  from 
the  south,  Harry's  canoe,  with  its  sable  owner,  apparently  well  nigh 
exhausted,  yet  tugging  lustily  at  the  oars,  and  diligently  scanning 
the  western  shore,  as  if  in  search  of  some  lost  object.  Bounding  to 
the  beach,  Henrich  shouted  and  beckoned  to  the  negro,  who,  seem- 
ingly no  less  surprised  and  pleased  than  himself,  came  hastily  to  the 
land. 


THE      KING     OF      THE      HURONS.  207 

"  Why,  Harry,"  exclaimed  Huntington,  still  scarcely  crediting  his 
eyes,  "  what,  in  the  name  of  the  seven  wonders,  has  brought  you 
here  ?" 

"  Grolly,  Massa!"  said  Harry,  panting  with  fatigue,  "I  been  look- 
ing for  dat  are  Albany  all  de  way,  and  can't  find  um ;  I  tink  I  must 
be  e'enamost  dare  now,  any  how  !" 

"  Almost  there  !  why,  Harry,  you  are  twenty  good  miles  past  it — 
but  you  have  made  a  most  fortunate  mistake  for  me,  if  you  are 
wilhng  to  continue  your  journey  a  few  hours  longer." 

"  Sartain,  I  will !"  replied  the  negro,  looking  back  with  a  puzzled 
air  over  the  route  he  had  traversed  ;  "  but  it's  mighty  strange  !  I 
'member  taking  leetle  nap  while  I  was  rowin',  and  dat  must  been 
de  time  when  dat  Albany  slip  past  me.  I  'member  now — but  it's 
mighty  strange,  dat  is,  gosh  !" 

Henrich  jumped  into  the  canoe,  and  taking  the  oars,  bade  the 
wearied  negro  compose  himself  to  rest  as  best  he  could,  an  injunc- 
tion which  the  latter  complied  with  by  curling  himself  up  in  the  aft 
part  of  the  boat,  with  his  head  resting  upon  the  gunwale,  where  he 
was  soon  giving  audible  evidence  of  the  soundness  of  his  slumbers. 
Huntington  labored  with  the  assiduity  of  hope  and  courage,  keeping 
close  to  the  western  shore,  and  soon  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  count's 
boat  some  miles  in  advance,  and  near  the  centre  of  the  river.  Main- 
taining a  distance  from  it  which  barely  kept  it  within  the  limits  of 
exerted  vision,  but  which  would  not  be  hkely  to  betray  himself,  un- 
sought, to  view,  he  followed  until  the  count  landed,  which,  as  has 
been  seen,  he  did  upon  the  eastern  shore,  at  about  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  He  then  quickly  crossed  the  river,  and  kept  along  the 
opposite  shore  until  he  arrived  within  less  than  a  mile  of  the  en- 
campment, where  he  also  stopped,  and  having  concealed  his  canoe, 
ascended  the  bank  with  Harry.  There  he  selected  a  hiding-place 
near  the  river,  and  waited,  although  with  but  httle  hope,  for  some 
signal  from  his  friends. 

An  hour,  magnified  into  two,  by  anxiety  and  suspense,  passed  with- 


208  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

out  the  expected  token,  and  the  shadows  of  despair  were  fast  settling 
around  his  heart,  when  the  faint  yet  distinct  caw  of  the  crow  reached 
his  ears,  descending,  as  it  seemed,  through  the  air  from  some  far 
height,  and  sounding  much  too  natural  to  admit  of  the  behef  that  it 
was  an  imitated  note.  Henrich  gazed  in  every  direction  to  discover 
the  tantalizing  bird  which  was  mocking  his  misery,  and  saw,  perched 
on  a  leafless  tree,  on  the  opposite  shore,  what  for  a  moment  seemed 
the  object  of  his  search,  but  while  he  looked,  the  fowl  spread  its 
wide  wings,  and  dropping  lazily  upon  the  buoyant  air,  sailed  ma- 
jestically off,  revealing  the  proportions  and  movements  of  the  gTey 
forest  eagle. 

At  the  same  moment,  nearer,  clearer,  and  more  distinctly  than 
before,  came  the  welcome  sound,  and  no  longer  doubting  that  his 
friends  were  at  hand,  he  responded  imperfectly  to  the  signal,  and 
approaching  the  quarter  whence  it  seemed  to  proceed,  had  the  un- 
speakable pleasure,  in  a  few  minutes,  of  grasping  the  hand  of  his 
faithful  friend  the  Lynx.  The  words  of  the  Indian  were  few  and 
hasty,  and  his  air  was  more  authoritative  than  that  which  had 
formerly  marked  him;  he  wasted  no  time  in  condolence  or  denuncia- 
tion, but  briefly  signifying  that  the  Algonquin  had  informed  him  of 
everything  which  had  taken  place  in  the  morning,  inquired  if  Henrich 
still  desired  to  go  to  Castle  Montaigne. 

"  I  do,"  replied  Huntington,  "  but  how  is  it  possible  ?  and  if  not 
so,  why  has  Anak  imposed  upon  me  this  toilsome  and  perilous 
journey  ?" 

"  The  Algonquin  is  wise,"  answered  the  Lynx  ;  "  my  brother  shall 
see  it ;  let  us  go,  for  everything  is  ready,  and  the  time  is  short." 

"  What  is  it  that  you  will  do  ?"  asked  Henrich,  following  as  he 
spoke ;  "  I  know  the  count  will  never  willingly  retract — will  you 
compel  him  to  do  so  ?" 

"  My  brother !"  replied  the  Huron,  "  I  am  a  chief,  and  the  Algon- 
quin is  a  chief's  brother,  and  a  great  Brave — but  we  should  both 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  209 

hang  from  the  corner  of  the  castle  walls  if  we  should  disobey  our 
leader.". 

"  How  is  it  then,"  asked  Hcnrich,  with  indignation,  "  that  you,  who 
are  of  right  an  independent  prince,  thus  consent  to  be  the  slave  of  a 
foreign  nobleman  V 

"  My  brother  is  wrong,"  said  the  Huron,  "  we  are  our  own  mas- 
ters— the  Iling  of  the  Hurons  has  never  made  women  of  us  :  we  do 
not  wear  petticoats." 

"  You  came,  then,  voluntarily  upon  this  journey  out  of  your  love 
for  the  baron :  you  might  have  remained  at  home,  and  will  be  again 
free  when  you  return,  but  having  placed  yourself  for  the  time  under 
the  count's  ordei*s,  are  fully  bound  by  them — is  it  so  V 

"  It  is  right — the  baron  is  a  great  Brave  1" 

The  Huron  seemed  disposed  to  be  no  further  communicative,  but 
led  the  way  in  silence  into  the  depths  of  the  forest,  and,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  about  sixty  rods  from  the  shore,  entered  a  thicket,  which 
nearly  impenetrable  at  its  edges,  grew  thinner  as  they  advanced. 
Henrich  followed  unquestioning,  until  his  guide  stopped  in  a  small 
open  space,  sheltered  on  all  sides  from  observation,  and  here  to  his 
increasing  surprise,  he  found  the  Algonquin,  evidently  awaiting  their 
approach.  Beside  the  latter,  on  the  ground  lay  a  small  bundle, 
compactly  tied,  the  envelope  of  which,  as  well  as  the  strings  which 
held  it  together,  was  of  deer-skin:  this  he  now  quickly  unrolled, 
revealing  a  flash  of  gaudy  colors  to  the  eye,  which,  at  a  second  glance, 
took  shape  as  a  broidered  and  beaded  kirtle,  leggins,  moccasins,  and 
belt,  with  other  articles  of  Inchan  apparel ;  shells  containing  several 
varieties  of  paint,  were  also  among  the  contents  of  the  pack,  and  as 
these  were  severally  opened  to  view,  Huntington  no  longer  doubted 
the  design  of  his  companions. 

"  We  will  make  an  Indian  of  our  brother,"  said  the  Lynx,  smiling — 
"what  does  he  say  ?     Will  he  be  a  Huron  Bi'ave  ?" 

"Most  certainly,"  replied  Henrich,  with  exultation,  for  he  felt 
confident  of  the  abiUty  of  his   friends  to  effect   an  impenetrable 


210  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

disguise,  and  sav/  at  once  how  inappreciable  might  be  its  value  to 
him — "  but  whose  are  these  garments  ?  and  how  is  it  that  you 
procure  them  in  this  wilderness?" 

The  Lynx  hastily  explained  that  it  was  the  apparel  in  which  he 
himself  had  started  from  home,  and  that  his  present  Mohawk  dress, 
although  prepared  before  setting  out,  had  only  been  assumed  on 
approaching  the  Iroquois  territory.  It  was  not  the  proper  raiment 
of  the  Lynx,  as  a  chief,  but  a  sort  of  uniform  common  to  the  war- 
riors of  his  tribe,  and  possessed  no  distinctive  feature  which  could 
lead  to  its  identification  ;  yet  to  avoid  all  suspicion,  and  make 
assurance  doubly  sure,  the  savages,  with  ready  tact,  made  a  few 
striking  alterations  in  the  principal  garments,  by  changing  in  some 
places  the  beads  and  painted  feathers,  and  in  otliers,  removing  them 
altogether. 

The  clothes  were  soon  adjusted  on  their  new  wearer,  whom  they 
nearly  fitted,  and  then  the  equally  necessary,  but  more  repulsive 
operation  of  painting  the  exposed  parts  of  the  body  was  commenced. 
This  was,  of  course,  something  beyond  the  ordinary  decoration  of 
colors  which  the  Indian  uses,  for  here  a  groundwork  was  necessary  to 
assimilate  the  general  hue  of  the  skin  to  that  of  the  red  man,  after 
which  the  fancy  tints  were  applied.  The  hair  was  shortened  and 
being  matted  closely  to  the  head,  received  its  share  of  dark  paint,  and 
vi'hen  all  was  done,  the  savages,  satisfied  with  their  work,  pronounced 
the  transformation  complete,  and  assured  Henrich  that  the  most 
skilful  eye  even  among  their  own  people  could  not  detect  the  decep- 
tion. Overlooking  nothing,  they  next  repainted  the  stock  of  his  gun, 
and  bestowed  upon  it  a  liberal  supply  of  dents  and  bruises  to  prevent 
any  danger  of  detection  from  that  source,  while  his  discarded  gar- 
ments the  Lynx  carefully  enveloped  in  the  deer  skin  covering,  and 
took  charge  of  for  their  owner's  future  use. 

Having  completed  these  arrangements,  the  sagacious  Huron  again 
bade  his  friend  follow  him,  and  led  the  way  still  farther  into  the 
forest,  while  the  Algonquin,  fearing  the  count's  displeasure  for  too 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  211 

prolonged  an  absence,  hastened  back  to  the  camp.  The  others 
proceeded  eastward  about  forty  rods  to  a  hill,  where  the  Indian, 
pointino-  over  an  intervening  plain  to  another  eminence  about  six 
miles  distant  in  the  northeast,  said : 

"  When  my  brother  stands  on  that  ridge,  he  will  see  the  lake  of 
the  Holy  Sacrament :  it  is  far  on  the  other  side — but  a  strong  man 
can  walk  to  it  before  the  sun  will  set — does  my  brother  fear  to  go  ?" 

"  I  fear  nothing,"  repHed  Henrich. 

The  Indian  turned,  and  pointing  to  the  north^vest,  with  a  waving, 
sinuous  motion  of  his  hand,  said  :  "  The  river  winds  and  twists  like 
a  serpent — it  is  a  long  way  before  we  turn  towards  the  lake,  and  we 
shall  not  see  it  until  to-morrow's  sun  is  in  the  west ;  when  we  come, 
w^e  shall  pass  near  the  eastern  shore  :  my  brother  must  be  somewhere 
on  the  hills  :  we  shall  see  him — I  have  said." 

The  point  which  the  travellers  had  attained  in  their  long  journey 
was  about  twenty  miles  north  of  the  forty-third  parallel  of  latitude, 
being  near  the  centre  of  a  remarkable  bend  in  the  river,  w^hich, 
crooked  to  a  charm,  for  the  next  thirty  miles  towards  its  source, 
presents  upon  the  map  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  curhng  whip- 
cord, thrown  casually  upon  the  ground.  The  route  of  the  voyagers 
led  up  the  river  about  twenty  miles  to  a  creek  which,  linking  several 
Liliputian  lakes  in  its  course,  extends  eastward  a  dozen  miles  or  more 
to  the  Horicon,  while  Henrich's  pedestrian  route,  striking  the  lake  at 
a  considerable  distance  from  its  source,  was  less  than  a  third  of  the 
space  to  be  traversed  by  the  boats.  Having  received  his  instructions 
and  promised  a  careful  compliance  with  them,  Henrich  parted  from 
his  companion  and  slowly  retraced  his  steps  towards  the  spot  where 
he  had  left  the  negro  and  the  canoe,  deeply  engrossed  in  the 
reflections  to  which  his  singular  situation  was  calculated  to  give  rise. 

Harry,  meanwhile,  had  waited  impatiently  on  the  lake  shore  for 
his  return,  and  looking  anxiously  from  time  to  time  into  the  forest, 
was  startled  at  length,  by  the  strange  and  formidable  figure  which 
he  saw  approaching : 


212  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

"  Jingo !"  lie  exclaimed,  "  wlio  be  dat  ? — dat  aint  de  Lyncli,  nor 
de  Golly quin  ;  blazes  !  who  be  he  ?  he  must  be  some  Irrysquaw  as 
dey  call  'em  and  want-a  my  scallap,  but  he  cant  hab  'em,"  and  Harry 
deliberately  brought  his  gun  to  bear  upon  the  supposed  enemy,  still 
continuing  his  sohloquy  as  he  tried  to  perfect  his  aim,  which  the 
intervening  trees  somewhat  hindered,  and  waiting  for  a  little  nearer 
approach  of  the  stranger  :  "  he  most  a  too  fine  looking  fellow  to  shoot 
down  like  a  bear — but  he  7nnst  come — he  no  see  me,  and  de  first 
ting  he  knows,  he  wont  know  notting — golly,  old  gun  !  you  nebber 
did  sich  a  job  as  dis  ere  afore — dis  aint  no  turkey — now  den,  look 
sharp  and  you  shall  hab  good  cleanin'  up  to-morrow." 

The  negro,  indged,  had  grown  nervous,  with  the  prospect,  for  the 
fii'st  time  in  his  life,  of  shedding  human  blood,  and  being  certain  that 
he  was  unseen,  waited  longer  than  was  really  necessary  for  the 
accomplishment  of  his  object.  He  had  killed  a  bird  at  thrice  the 
distance,  and  a  bounding  deer  still  more  remote,  but  Henrich,  by  one 
of  those  minute  events,'  the  consequences  of  which,  so  vastly 
disproportionate  to  their  seeming  cause,  indicate  the  unseen  agency 
of  Pro\Tidence,  became  aware  at  this  instant  of  his  danger.  A  mis- 
step caused  him  to  stumble,  and  on  recovering  himself  and  looking 
up,  his  eye  fell  upon  Harry  and  his  presented  weapon,  just  in  time 
to  allow  of  his  springing,  Indian-like,  behind  a  tree  for  safety.  He 
at  once  understood  the  negro's  very  natural  mistake,  and  shouted  to 
him  fi-om  his  shelter,  without  daring  to  look  forth :  "  Harry ! 
Harry !  don't  tire — it's  I — Harry — I  say,  Harry !" 

"  No — no — you  don't  Harry  me,  old  fellow  !"  said  the  negro, 
stepping  cautiously  out  on  one  side,  with  his  gun  still  levelled,  and 
trying  to  get  a  view  of  Huntington,  who  was  compelled  to  retreat 
warily  around  the  tree — "  what  a  fool  I  was  not  to  shoot  when  I  hab 
sich  a  good  chance — only  let  me  git  anudder  once,  and  I  show  him  !" 

"  Harry  Bolt !  Harry  Bolt !"  shouted  Huntington,  now  fully 
alarmed,  and  presenting  his  own  weapon  towards  his  assailant — 


THE      KING      OF     THE     HURONS.  213 

"  don't  fire,  for  Heaven's  sake — It's  I,  I  tell  you,  Henrich  Huntington  : 
stand  still,  or  I  shall  be  obliged  to  shoot  you — it's  I,  Harry !" 

"Oh  !  it's  you,  is  it?"  said  Harry,  comprehending,  in  his  excite- 
ment, only  the  last  words  of  the  other,  and  retreating  in  his  turn 
behind  a  tree,  to  avoid  the  expected  shot — "  'spose  it  is  you — so  is 
dis  ere  me — what  den  ?  now  you  jes  show  your  red  pate  round  dat 
tree — dat's  all — else  you  stay  dare  till  ]\Iass  Henrich  come  back  and 
den  we  hab  you  on  bofe  sides." 

"  Harry,  you  fool !  you  idiot !  you  dolt !  Harry,  I  say !" 

"  Golly,  but  he  must  know  me  1"  said  Harry — "and  den  he  talk 
good  Enghsh  too,  for  an  Indian." 

"  Don't  you  know  your  friend  Henrich  Huntington  ?"  asked  the 
seeming  savage,  but  without  daring  to  expose  the  smallest  part  of  his 
body. 

"  'Course  I  do,"  answered  the  other,  keeping  equally  close  behind 
his  cover,  and  still  unsuspicious  of  the  true  state  of  the  case — "  he's 
coming  pretty  soon,  so  you  better  s'render  !" 

"  He's  here,  I  tell  you  again — I  am  Henrich  myself !" 

"  You're  a  lying  Injun  !"  repHed  the  other,  indignantly — "  I  know 
your  tricks :  Mass  Henrich  is  a  white  gerapleman,  and  you  are  a  red 
and  black  sabbage  !" 

"But  the  Lynx  has  dressed  me  up,  and  painted  me,  Harry!" 
said  Huntington,  soothingly — "these  are  his  clothes — see — put 
down  your  gun  and  I  will  put  mine  down,  and  then  come  and 
examine  me." 

Harry  peered  cautiously  from  his  tree,  and  seemed  slightly 
staggered :  "  I  believe  you  liar  and  tief,"  he  said — "  but  put-a-down 
your  gun  and  I  put-a-mine  down :  I  aint  afraid  of  you  on  a  rough- 
and  tumble  fight,  any  how !" 

Henrich  placed  his  weapon  on  the  ground  and  the  negro  did  the 
same,  and  both  advanced  a  step. 

"  Habn't  you  got  a  knife,  you  scaramouch  you  ?"  asked  Harry, 
suspiciously. 


214  THE     KING     OF     THE     HUR0N9, 

"  No,  Harry,"  said  Huntington,  "  but  I  have  a  pistol — shall  I  lay- 
it  down  ?" 

"Sartain,  put  em  down — oh  you  dyboUical  debbil — you  bin 
kill-a  Mass  Henrich,  and  stole  his  pistol :  I'll  tear  you  into  a  tousen 
pieces." 

"  Now,  Harry,  listen  I"  said  Henrich,  laughing — "  which  do  you 
think  is  the  best  to  catch  a  bass  with,  a  straight  hook  or  a  crooked 
one?" 

This  fortunate  reference  to  the  sport  of  a  preceding  day  at  once 
fully  dispelled  the  negro's  illusion  :  he  darted  quickly  to  his  friend's 
side,  exclaiming: 

"  Oh  Massa  Henrich,  I  know  you  now,  and  dat  your  voice,  too, 
for  sartain — oh  Mass  Henrich  !  oh  jingo  I  blazes  !  golly  !  oh  gosh  ! 
Mass  Henrich,  'spose  I  hah  shoot  you !"  and  the  nearly  frantic  negro 
danced  around  his  friend,  now  seizing  one  arm,  and  now  the  other, 
and  manifesting  the  utmost  terror  at  the  appalling  thought.  It  was 
several  minutes  before  the  faithful  fellow  could  recover  his  equa- 
nimity, and  when  his  trepidation  had  subsided,  his  mind  passed  to 
the  opposite  mood  of  merriment  at  Henrich's  strange  appearance. 

"  Ah  dat  Lynch — dat  Lynch  !  what  a  genus  he  be  !"  he  said,  feehng 
of  kirtle,  belt,  and  moccasins  in  turn,  and  chuckling  with  hysterical 
laughter — "  and  he  smash-a  your  splennid  gun,  too,  what  send  a 
ball  most  to  Skamkatky — but  nebber  mind ;  it  wont  hurt  it — oh  dat 
Lynch — oh  dat  Lynch  I" 

But  Huntington  had  no  time  to  lose,  and  it  was  with  much  regret 
that  he  now  prepared  again  to  part  with  his  faithful  servitor,  who 
begged  earnestly  to  be  allowed  to  accompany  him,  or  at  least  to 
follow  tlie  route  of  the  boats  in  his  canoe.  There  were  obvious 
reasons,  however,  why  this  request  could  not  be  complied  with,  and 
exacting  a  promise  from  Harry  to  make  no  such  attempt,  but  to 
return  at  once  to  Albany,  he  again  bade  him  farewell,  and  set  out 
on  his  lonely  journey  through  the  forest.  His  route  had  been  too 
distinctly  pointed  out  by  the  sagacious   Huron  to  admit   of  his 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S.  215 

mistaking  it,  and  he  succeeded,  with  Httle  difficulty,  in  attaining  the 
shore  of  Lake  George  on  the  same  evening,  where  he  found  a  safe 
shelter,  and,  what  his  ftitigue  had  fully  earned,  a  night's  refreshing 
rest. 

On  the  morrow,  he  sought  the  highest  land,  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  shore,  and  while  maintaining  an  unremitting  watch 
for  enemies,  he  also  kept  a  vigilant  look-out  towards  the  south  for  the 
expected  voyagers.  His  success  not  only  in  rejoining  them,  but  in 
detecting  and  assisting  to  defeat  an  ambuscade  which  had  been  laid 
for  their  destruction,  has  been  already  fully  recorded. 


216  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

•'  Ye've  trailed  me  through  the  forest ; 
Ye've  tracked  me  o'er  the  stream  ; 
And,  struggling  through  the  everglade, 
Your  bristling  bayonets  gleam." 

G,  W.  Patten. 

It  was  about  mid-day  when  Count  Carlton's  engagement,  if  such 
it  may  be  called,  with  the  Iroquois,  had  terminated,  and  when  the 
voyagers,  relieved  from  ai^preheusion  of  immediate  danger,  resumed 
their  route  with  comparatively  light  hearts.  To  Miss  Montaigne, 
however,  returned  none  of  that  buoyancy  of  spirit  which,  despite  pri- 
vation and  peril,  had  marked  her  conduct  during  the  first  few  days 
of  the  journey.  That  repeated  alarms  and  a  still  abiding  uneasiness 
as  to  the  future  had  in  part  produced  her  depression  was  doubtless 
true ;  yet  her  unl)idden  thoughts  were  continually  recurring  to  the 
singular  conduct  of  Huntington,  and  were  ferreting  out  remem- 
brances of  imagined  wrongs,  which  had  impelled  one,  usually  so 
kind  and  just-judging,  to  an  act  that  implied  evident  displeasure 
towards  herself. 

Ever  self-censuring,  she  could  dwell  upon  this  subject  only  with 
pain,  for  she  held  in  vivid  remembrance  all  the  weighty  favors  she 
had  received  from  him,  as  well  as  his  generous  and  unpresuming 
deportment,  which  ever  indicated  a  fear  of  seeming  to  claim  a  requi- 
tal at  her  hands.  That  she  had  wounded  so  noble  a  spirit,  had 
driven  him  from  her  presence,  had  for  ever  closed  the  way  to  expla- 
nation, and  to  returning  sympathy  and  friendship,  seemed  to  her  now 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  217 

distressed  heart  a  depth  of  ingratitude  and  unkindness,  for  which  it 
would  be  vain  to  seek  a  parallel. 

Beyond  this  limit,  her  thoughts  took  no  definite  shape ;  her  senti- 
ments towards  Huntington  may,  perhaps,  at  times,  have  been  im- 
bued with  a  glow  beyond  the  genial  warmth  of  friendship ;  but  if  so, 
she  knew  it  not.  Love,  indeed,  is  not  infrequently  an  unrecognized 
inmate  of  the  heart,  overlooked,  for  a  while,  or  mistaken,  by  its  inex- 
perienced entertainer,  for  some  kindred  emotion,  and  only  discovered 
at  length,  too  late  to  be  dislodged.  Blanche  did  not  seek  to  ti-ace 
her  feelings  to  their  source ;  and  if  ever  for  a  moment  she  had  re- 
garded Henrich  as  a  suitor,  the  thought  had  been  repressed  by  the 
conviction  that  there  was  an  unbridged  gulf  betwixt  them,  across 
which  Hope  might  gaze,  but  could  not  pass. 

The  Lynx  had  not  erred  in  believing  that  the  Iroquois  warriors 
were  not  effectually  repulsed  ;  they  had  vanished,  indeed,  from  view, 
and  so  long  did  they  continue  invisible,  that  hopes  were  entertained 
of  their  having  abandoned  their  costly  enterprise  ;  but  they  were 
again  discovered,  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  scarcely  two 
miles  distant,  skirting  the  western  shore  of  the  lake,  and  skulking 
beneath  its  shadows.     They  had  retreated  with  a  succession  of  wail- 
ing yells  and  screeches,  which  were  supposed  at  the  time  to  be  less 
in  lamentation  for  their  loss  than  with  a  view  to  invoke  aid  from  the 
neighboring  forests;    and   their    present  pertinacious    pursuit  was 
attributed  to  the  hope  of  finding  such  assistance.     They  were  now, 
fortunately,  silent,  beheving  themselves  undiscovered,  and  it  was  the 
policy  of  the  fugitives  to  let  them  remain  deceived,  lest  they  should 
recommence  their  dangerous  cries. 

But  not  many  minutes  had  elapsed  when  a  noise  issued  from  their 
midst,  different  in  its  character  from  any  which  they  had  heretofore 
made ;  it  was  a  prolonged,  shrill  call,  seeming  to  proceed  from  a 
single  voice,  and  the  batteau  at  the  same  moment  shot  out  from  the 
shadows  into  a  place  where  it  could  be  more  distinctly  seen.  The 
objects  which  had  occasioned  this  movement  had  at  the  same  mo- 

10 


218  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

ment  caught  the  attention  of  the  Huron,  who,  with  forced  calmness, 
now  pointed  them  out  to  his  comrades,  recalhng  all  their  abated 
terror,  and  adding  tenfold  to  its  intensity.  Three  long  canoes,  con- 
taining in  the  aggregate  not  less  than  thirty  men,  were  doubling  a 
distant  promontory  in  the  northwest,  and  approaching  in  a  direction 
which  would  directly  intersect  the  [sath  of  the  count's  party  ;  they 
were  yet  several  miles  distant,  and  could  not  be  seen  with  distinct- 
ness ;  but  they  were  supposed  to  be  a  war  party,  returning  from  an 
expedition,  and  travelling  to  their  home,  somewhere  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  lake. 

The  most  utter  consternation  prevailed  among  the  travellers,  and 
the  course  of  the  boat  was  instantaneously  changed,  by  the  Lynx,  to 
the  east,  in  the  direction  of  a  cluster  of  small  islands,  which  lay 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  distant. 

"  We  can  only  fly,"  he  said,  in  answer  to  the  eager  inquiries  of 
his  leader,  as  to  the  extent  of  the  danger ;  "  if  they  have  not  seen  us, 
we  may  possibly  escape." 

It  was  the  first  time  that  the  Huron  had  spoken  discouragingly, 
and  the  count  trembled  as  he  replied : 

"  Why  do  you  say  '  possibly  ? '  the  night  is  not  far  distant,  and 
they  are  yet  several  miles  from  us ;  the  danger  cannot  be  great." 

"  It  is  great ! "  responded  the  Indian ;  "  1  have  said  !  they  are 
many — we  are  few — see  ! " 

As  he  ceased  speaking,  he  pointed  towards  the  Iroquois  batteau, 
which  was  now  proceeding  rapidly  outward,  seemingly  with  a  view 
to  overtake  the  fugitives,  or  at  least,  hound-like,  to  track  them  closely 
until  the  other  vessels  should  come  up.  They  repeated  their  calls, 
which,  as  far  as  could  be  judged,  were  ineflectual  in  atti-acting  the 
attention  of  the  strangers,  and  this  seemed  the  only  encouraging  fea- 
ture in  the  affair.  But  e\'en  this  was  of  short  duration ;  for,  finding 
other  means  insufficient,  the  jfursuers  fired  a  salute  of  half  a  dozen 
guns,  following  it  up  by  a  j)rolonged  war-cry,  which  at  once  pro- 
duced an  effect ;  the  canoes  stopped  for  a  moment,  and  came  to- 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  219 

gether ;  and  when  they  resumed  their  progress,  it  was  clearly  \Nath 
increased  speed  and  in  a  diverging  direction  from  each  other,  as  if  to 
make  sure  of  keeping  the  chase  within  \-iew.  So  great,  indeed,  was 
their  velocity,  compared  ^vith  that  of  the  count,  whose  wearied  oars- 
men had  toiled  ever  since  the  preceding  evening,  that  it  became 
almost  doubtful  whether  the  latter  would  be  even  able  to  attain  the 
refuge  of  an  island  before  their  alhed  enemies  would  overtake  them. 

When  the  design  of  the  strangers  became  fully  apparent,  an 
ominous  silence  prevailed  for  awhile  in  the  retreating  batteau,  broken 
at  length  by  the  hysterical  sobbing's  of  Emily  and  the  low  mournful 
voice  of  Blanche  in  attempted  encouragement.  It  was  the  nitention 
of  the  Lynx  to  land  on  the  smallest  of  the  islets,  hoping  that  possibly 
one  might  be  found  sufficiently  minute  to  be  capable  of  defence  even 
by  his  little  corps,  until  some  opportunity  of  escape  should  offer. 
He  was  disappointed,  however,  on  drawing  near  the  group,  to  find 
none  that  was  suitable  for  his  purpose  :  the  only  one  which  seemed 
even  temporarily  defensible  was  situated  near  the  centre  of  the  cluster, 
and  was  separated  on  the  south  from  a  sister  isle,  by  scarcely  sixty 
rods  of  water.  To  this  refuge,  therefore,  the  retreating  party  fled, 
wearied  and  dispirited,  while  even  its  stoical  warriors  entertained 
but  little  hope  beyond  that  of  selling  their  lives  dearly,  and  perform- 
ing the  journey  to  the  spirit-land  in  company  with  a  portion,  at  least, 
of  their  invaders. 

The  isle  of  which  they  had  taken  possession  was  much  too  large 
for  their  safety,  being  nearly  a  third  of  a  mile  in  length,  and  about 
forty  rods  in  width,  and  would  involve  the  necessity  of  a  division  of 
their  small  force  to  protect  its  several  parts.  The  batteau,  indeed, 
containing  the  first  detachment  of  the  enemy,  came  rapidly  up  and 
took  possession  as  had  been  anticipated  of  the  nearest  island  on  the 
south,  while  the  course  of  the  canoes  indicated  an  intention  of  landing 
upon  another,  which  lay  considerably  north  of  that  occupied  by  the 
count's  party.  It  was  the  longest  if  not  the  largest  of  the  group, 
extending  more  than  a  mile  north  and  south,  and  approaching  to 


220  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

within  a  little  less  than  half  that  distance  of  the  territory  occupied  by 
the  besieged  party.  The  strangers  passed  to  the  north  of  this  large 
island,  and  came  down  on  its  eastern  side,  remaining  unobserved 
until  they  had  effected  a  landing  near  its  southern  border,  and 
encamped  in  the  woods. 

Thus  were  the  unhappy  travellers  surrounded  as  it  were  by 
enemies,  who  waited  only  for  the  approaching  night  to  attack  them 
from  every  quarter,  and  from  whose  vigilant  surveillance  there  was 
no  prospect  of  escape.  The  count,  the  Algonquin,  and  three  of  the 
soldiers  took  their  station  on  the  south  coast,  while  the  remainder  of 
the  force,  three  in  number,  were  stationed  at  the  opposite  extremity 
of  the  land ;  the  Lynx  being  invested  with  full  power  to  act  in  his 
section  of  the  little  realm,  as  circumstances  should  require,  without 
communicating  with  his  principal.  For  the  ladies  a  fitting  place  was 
selected  about  midway  between  the  posts. 

It  was  about  the  hour  of  four  in  the  afternoon  when  these 
arrangements  were  completed,  and  there  remained  a  brief  interval 
of  suspense  to  be  passed  before  the  dreadful  crisis  should  arrive,  the 
probable  issue  of  which  was  too  appalhng  to  be  contemplated.  Miss 
Montaigne  and  Emily  remained  for  a  while  in  the  shelter  which  had 
been  provided  for  them,  but  finding  the  burden  of  their  fears  too 
heavy  to  bear  alone,  they  strolled  together  towards  the  place  where 
the  Lynx  and  his  two  companions  were  on  guard,  and  begged  that 
they  might  be  allowed  to  remain  near  their  protectors.  To  this,  of 
course,  the  Huron  readily  assented,  and  while  Emily,  exhausted, 
sought  a  seat  at  a  little  distance  from  her  cousin,  the  latter  remained 
standing  near  the  Lidian  and  his  comrades. 

"  You  are  not  accustomed  easily  to  despair,"  she  said  at  length ; 
"  why  is  it  that  you  think  there  is  so  little  hope  of  escape  ?  The 
shore  is  not  far  distant." 

"  There  are  four  boats  ready  to  follow  when  we  start,"  rephed  the 
Lynx — "  we  are  safer  here." 

"  But  the  night  may  favor  us — we  may  fly  unseen " 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  221 

"  If  the  Manitou  should  hang  his  mantle  on  the  moon,  we  may," 
said  the  Huron,  pointing  to  the  orb  of  night,  which,  although  laintly 
visible  as  yet,  amid  the  day's  superior  beams,  was  climbing  a  sky 
singularly  clear  and  cloudless,  save  in  the  far  north,  where  a  high 
piled  cloud,  towering  like  ocean  canvass,  navigated  the  calm  expanse 
alone,  but  answered,  alas,  to  no  mortal  hail,  and  settled  slowly  towards 
the  horizon. 

Blanche  remained  motionless,  her  lips  only  mo\ing,  and  her  eyes 
fixed  upon  the  firmament ;  a  pause  of  some  minutes  succeeded,  which 
was  at  length  broken  by  the  low  voice  of  the  Indian : 

"  The  Lynx  is  sorry,"  he  said,  looking  mournfully  at  the  young 
lady,  and  impressed  seemingly  with  the  idea  that  he  was  in  some 
degree  responsible  for  the  pending  calamity — "  he  is  very  sad — but 
men  must  not  weep ;  he  did  what  he  could — he  has  acted  like  a 
chief;  is  it  not  so  ?  what  does  the  Dove-eye  say  ?" 

"  You  have  done  everything  that  a  brave  man  could  do,"  replied 
Blanche  emphatically — "surely  you  have  no  cause  to  reproach 
yourself." 

"  He  will  never  know  it !"  rephed  the  Indian  bitterly — "  the  King  of 
the  Hurons  will  say  that  the  Lynx  was  not  a  Brave." 

"  That  will  he  not !"  answered  Blanche,  "  my  father  will  never  do 
you  injustice ;  besides,  there  is  one  who  will  j^roclaim  your  worth  to 
the  world ;  thank  Heaven  that  he  is  not  here  in  this  hour  of  peril !" 
"  Thank  Heaven  that  he  is  /"  exclaimed  a  low  voice  at  her  side ; 
"  to  share  every  peril  of  Miss  Montaigne— to  shield  her,  if  it  is  the 
will  of  Heaven — to  die  for  her,  if  it  is  not !" 

To  the  air,  to  the  water,  to  the  surrounding  woods,  did  Blanche, 
bewildered  and  terrified,  look  for  the  speaker,  as  this  familiar  and 
heart- welcomed  voice  fell  upon  her  ear ;  but  not  to  the  dark  and  mo- 
tionless figure,  which  stood  scarcely  a  dozen  feet  distant  from  her  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Huron  chief.  So  entirely  void  of  suspicion  was 
she  as  to  the  individuality  of  the  Beaver,  as  an  Indian  hunter,  that 
she  could  quite  as  easily  have  suspected  the  Lynx  as  him,  to  be  the 


222  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

disguised  Henrich.  Seeing  no  one  but  the  supposed  Indian,  for 
tlie  Lynx,  with  ready  tact,  had  stepped  aside,  withdrawing  also  the 
soldier,  she  doubted  the  faithfulness  of  her  senses,  and  beheved  that 
her  excited  imagination  had  in  some  way  misled  her. 

"  Did  any  one  speak  to  me,  but  now,  in  English  ?"  she  said, 
using  that  language  ;  "  or  does  my  mind  wander  ?" 

As  she  spoke,  the  Beaver  advanced  a  few  steps,  and  stood  before 
her ;  his  calm  eyes  fixed  upon  her  countenance,  for  the  first  time, 
with  no  downcast  look  to  conceal  theis*  hue.  "  Miss  Montaigne," 
he  said,  "  I  am  Henrich  Huntington,  happy,  even  in  this  hour  of 
gloom,  to  convince  you  that  I  have  been  no  recreant  to  my  trust." 

Speechless  with  amazement,  with  alarm,  with  delight,  Blanche 
listened  to  these  words,  while  the  flitting  color  went  and  came  on 
her  cheeks,  like  the  shadows  of  flying  clouds  upon  a  summer  land- 
scape. Her  breath  was  short  and  hurried — her  parted  lips  moved 
without  voice,  and  her  whole  frame  shook  with  her  irrepressible 
emotion. 

"  Is  it,  indeed,  so  ?"  she  said,  at  length,  faintly,  and  with  ashen 
face,  resting  one  trembling  hand  upon  a  tree  for  support,  and 
frankly  extending  the  other  to  her  friend  :  "  Is  it  you,  Henrich  ? 
Oh,  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you,  and  yet  I  cannot  bid  you  welcome 
in  this  dreadful  hour." 

Huntington  seized  the  hand  of  Miss  Montaio-ne,  and  ere  he 
relinquished,  pressed  it  lightly  to  his  lips.  "  I  ask  no  better  wel- 
come," he  said,  as  Blanche  hastily,  yet  unreprovingly  withdrew  the 
imprisoned  member  from  his  grasp. 

"  This  is  no  time  for  idle  compliments,"  she  said,  quickly  ;  "  tell 
me  why  this  disguise  ?  And  yet  I  should  not  ask,  since  in  it  you 
have  once,  aye,  twice  already,  saved  our  lives." 

"  Enough  for  the  present.  Miss  Montaigne,  that  it  was  necessary ; 
without  it  I  could  not  have  been  with  you ;  keep  my  secret,  and 
above  all,  from  the  count." 

"You   have  had  injustice   and  suflFering,"   she   rei^lied,   hastily. 


THE      KING       OF      THE      HURONS.  223 

•*0h,  how  much  do  we  owe  you!  how  much  have  we  misju<lu,t'd 
you !  But  tell  me, — for  hope  never  seems  to  desert  you, — is  our 
situation  altogether  desperate  ?  Speak  frankly  to  me ;  I  can  bear 
the  worst  and  ought  to  hear  it." 

"  I  should  do  wrong  not  to  confess  to  you.  Miss  Montaigne,"  he 
replied,  "  that  the  danger  is  very  great.  The  Lynx,  who  is  most 
familiar  with  Indian  warfare,  thinks,  if  the  soldiers  do  their  duty,  we 
may  take  a  quarter,  or,  perhaps,  even  a  third  of  our  enemies  with 
us  into  the  other  world,  and  thus  fall  with  glory,  but  scarcely  hints 
of  any  other  hope." 

"How  dreadful  to  indulge  such  revengeful  wishes  at  such  an 
hour  1"  exclaimed  Blanche,  tremulously.  "  And  the  Algon<juin — 
what  says  he  ?" 

"  Mallory,  who  has  come  from  the  other  company  on  an  errand 
of  inquiry,  reports  that  he  is  reserved  and  taciturn,  and  chants  to 
himself  at  intervals — the  sign  is  bad  !" 

"  Alas,  yes  !  it  is  his  death-song  !"  answered  Miss  Montaigne  ; 
"  he  himself  told  us  of  the  custom." 

"  We  have  \iewed  the  worst  side  of  the  picture,"  continued  Hen- 
rich.  "  We  should  sin  not  to  remember  that  there  is  a  Power 
which  saves  alike  '  by  many  or  by  few.'  He  can  preserve  us,  we 
know ;  and  if  such  is  not  His  purpose,  that  purpose  still  is  best." 

"  You  speak  nobly,  Mr.  Huntington,  and  as  created  man  should 
ever  speak  of  the  dealings  of  The  Infinite  ;  we  are  in  His  iiinds, 
and  in  this  solemn  hour  should  confide  fully  in  Him ;  yet  it  is  diffi- 
cult for  weak  human  nature  to  view  closely  and  calmly  that  mys- 
terious change  which  awaits  it;  above  all,"  s^he  said,  sudden k  rais- 
ing her  voice,  with  emotion,  "  when  it  comes  with  sucii  atLL-ndant 
horrors  !" 

"  Do  not  quite  despair !"  repUed  Henrich,  sootliingly.  "  We 
may  not  look  for  miracles,  and  yet  there  may  be  means  and  agen- 
cies at  work  for  us,  of  which  we  have  no  knowletlge.  1  do  not 
wish  to  excite  unfounded  hopes,  but  a  thought  has  occurred  to  me, 


224  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

which  has  in  it  a  ray — a  faint  ray  of  hght ;  we  know  that  all  of  our 
first  ]  .ursuers  are  savages,  and  fi'om  them  we  can  hope  nothing ;  but 
theie  may  be — it  is  barely  possible — some  subordinate  English  offi- 
cer in  command  of,  or  in  company  with  the  other  division,  who 
would  have  sufficient  influence  to  save  our  hves,  and  cause  us  to  be 
regarded  as  prisoners  of  war ;  at  least,  if  we  could  communicate 
with  him,  and  capitulate,  before  the  onslaught  commences,  and  be- 
fore the  savages  become  excited  in  battle." 

"  Alas  ! ,  how  many  remote  contingencies  are  these  !  So  faint  a 
hope  serves  only  more  fiilly  to  reveal  our  despair — yet  you  may  be 
right ;  do  not  let  me  discourage  you  from  any  effort." 

Henrich  at  once  proceeded  to  counsel  with  the  Lynx,  while 
Blanche,  being  so  permitted,  went  to  inform  her  cousin  of  the  pre- 
sence of  Hunting-ton,  in  the  disguise  of  the  Beaver ;  tidings  which 
aroused  Emily  from  her  stupor  of  fear  and  gi'ief,  and  infused  a  new 
though  indefinite  hope  into  her  spirit. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  225 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


" Many  a  peril  have  I  past, 

Nor  know  I  why  this  next  appears  the  last ; 
Yet  so  my  heart  forebodes." — Byron. 


The  Huron  heard  his  friend's  remarks  in  silence,  but  gave  httle 
confirmation  to  his  views  ;  he  had  seen  nothing  to  induce  him  to 
suppose  there  were  any  other  than  Indians  among  either  of  the 
attacking  parties,  and  he  had  no  behef,  if  there  were,  that  any  terms 
could  be  made  which  would  compromise  the  savages'  right  to  deal 
with  their  prisoners  after  their  usual  custom.  For  himself  and  the 
Algonquin,  he  knew,  he  said,  there  could  be  no  hope,  and  they 
could  hardly  be  expected  to  be  parties  to  a  capitulation  which  did 
not  include  them  in  its  protection.  They  were  willing  to  die ;  the 
spirit-land  of  their  fathers  was  open  to  them  ;  they  would  enter  it 
gloriously ;  they  would  fall  like  chiefs  and  great  braves,  and  would 
never  be  taken  prisoners,  and  roasted  like  cowards,  at  a  stake. 

Such  was  the  substance  of  the  Lynx's  emphatic  reply,  and  so  wrapt 
was  he  in  the  thoughts  he  had  uttered  that  it  was  some  moments 
before  Henrich  could  again  attract  his  attention  to  his  own  remarks. 
When  he  had  succeeded  in  doing  so,  he  repelled,  with  indignation, 
any  design  on  the  part  of  himself  or  the  ladies,  to  seek  exclusively 
their  own  safety,  assured  the  Indian  that  if  any  treaty  was  effected, 
it  should  be  one  which  included  the  whole  party  in  its  provisions, 
and  reminding  him  that  it  was  the  part  of  a  great  warrior  never  to 
remit  his  efforts  for  life,  begged  him  to  reflect  whether  he  could 

10* 


226  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

devise  any  means  to  open  a  negotiation  \^ith  the  enemy.  No  one, 
of  course,  would  und'  rtake  the  hazardous  eriand  of  bearing  a  flag 
to  a  savage  foe,  nor  could  the  only  boat  of  the  prisoners  be  risked 
on  such  an  embassy,  and  nothing  remained  but  to  attempt  to  send, 
by  some  means,  a  written  message  to  the  opposing  camp. 

The  Huron,  incapable  of  opposing  his  friend,  however  hopeless  of 
the  result,  undeilook  to  find  some  mode  of  locomotion  for  a  talking 
pai)er,  if  Henrich  would  prepare  one,  and  they  set  simultaneously 
about  their  tasks,  thus  combining  the  ingenuity  of  civilized  and 
savage  hfe,  where  either  alone  would  have  been  insufficient  to  effect 
their  purpose. 

The  pocket-book  of  Huntington  furnished  from  its  miscellaneous 
contents  a  scrap  of  paper,  on  which  he  wrote,  in  pencil,  the  follow- 
ing words  : 

"  We  are  travellers  ;  three  of  us  are  English  citizens — the  remain- 
der are  French  aiid  their  allies.  "Will  our  lives  be  protected  if  we 
surrender  ourselves  prisoners  ?  We  are  well  armed.  To  any 
officer  or  gentleman  in  command  of  the  enemy." 

The  Lynx,  meanwhile,  procui-ed  a  piece  of  bark  about  eighteen 
inches  in  length,  and  six  or  eight  inches  wide,  which  he  speedily 
fashioned,  with  his  hunting  knife,  into  the  shape  of  a  boa^ ;  a  minia- 
ture mast  arose  fi'om  its  centre,  slitted  to  receive  the  trimmed  leaves 
which  formed  its  lower  sails,  while  the  letter  itself,  fastened  securely 
above  them,  constituted  a  top-gallant-royal  to  the  little  vessel.  A 
fixed  rudder,  the  result  of  much  careful  calculation,  was  added,  and 
the  httle  messenger,  fi-eighted  with  many  hopes,  was  set  afloat, 
watched  by  the  tearful  eyes  of  Blanche  and  Emily,  and  awakening 
alternate  hopes  and  fears,  as  it  now  slightly  diverged  from  its 
expected  route,  and  now  pressed  gallantly  forward  on  its  way. 

The  wind  was  blowing  lightly  from  the  south-west,  and  there  was 
great  danger  that  the  boat  might  pass  eastward  of  the  island,  not- 
withstanding the  accurate  adjustment  of  the  tiller,  to  prevent  such  a 
result.     Now  plunging  and  dipping  before  some  passing  flaw,  now 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HUR0N8,  227 

dartin;^  suddenly  forward,  and,  anon,  stopping  trembling  and  veering, 
as  if  bewildered  and  uncertain  of  its  course,  it  still  soon  attained 
a  position  about  midway  between  the  islands,  without  any  material 
deviation  from  its  route.  Thence  it  proceeded  with  a  steady  and 
uniform  progress  towards  the  opposing  shore,  evidently  attracting 
the  attention  of  the  enemy  long  before  it  reached  the  beach,  one  of 
whom  was  seen  to  dart  out  from  his  shelter,  and  seizing  the  toy, 
bear  it  back  to  the  woods. 

The  excitement  incident  to  this  experiment  had  temporarily  re- 
lieved the  minds  of  those  en^-aged  in  it  from  the  oppressive  sense  of 
their  danger,  which  now  returned  with  overwhelming  force.  The 
effort  which  they  had  just  made  began  to  seem  almost  absurd,  even 
in  the  eyes  of  its  originator,  and  when  five  minutes  of  suspense  had 
ensued,- -minutes  by  the  chronometer,  but  hours  by  the  mental 
measurement  of  the  prisoners, — a  settled  conviction  fastened  upon 
their  minds  that  the  season  of  hope  was  past. 

"  It  was  .surely  most  cruel  of  uncle,"  said  Emily,  first  breaking 
the  mournful  silence  wliich  had  for  some  minutes  prevailed,  "to  ex- 
pose us  to  such  i)erils !  Oh  !  why  did  he  not  rather  leave  us  in 
New  York  until  this  dreadful  war  was  ended  T 

"  Do  not  blame  him,  Einily,"  ropUed  Blanche,  with  a  beseeching 
look  ;  "  h(i  did  not,  indeed  he  did  not,  know  the  danger.  The 
Lynx  will  t -11  you  thit  for  months  there  has  been  no  hostile  party 
in  these  parts  ;  that  the  theatre  of  war  was  at  other  and  remote 
points  when  he  set  out  frcMii  home ;  and  in  proof  of  this,  remember 
how  very  far  we  have  come  in  safety." 

"Only  to  be  murdend  at  the  last!"  sobbed  Emily,  bitterly; 
"oh,  it  was  cruel — cruel— cruel !  Think  not  that  I  cannot  forgive 
him,  but  it  is  tolly  to  seek  to  justify  his  acts." 

"  Emily,  dear  cousin,  do  not  talk  thus ;  indeed  he  is  not  in  fault ; 
mine  rather  is  the  blame,  and  it  is  a  fearful  responsibility  to  feel  at 
such  a  time  !  Ah  !  would  that  you  had  returned  when  I  besought 
you  to  do  so.     Can  you  forgive  me,  Emily — Henrich  ?" 


228  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

"Nay,  we  have  nothing  to  forgive  yow,  cousin  Blanche,"  an- 
swered Emily,  hastily  ;  while  Huntington  replied  to  the  question 
only  with  a  look  of  gentle  reproach. 

"  You  will  not  admit  it,  I  know,"  said  Blanche,  "  and  I  thank 
you  for  your  forbearance ;  but,  alas !  what  avails  now  either  censure 
or  exculpation  on  such  a  point  ?  We  all  did  what  we  then 
beheved  right :  let  us  think,  rather,  of  more  serious  matters." 

During  this  conversation,  the  Lynx  remained  standing  on  the  mar- 
gin of  the  water,  looking  upon  that  part  of  the  distant  island  where 
the  little  boat  had  disappeared,  with  a  singular  steadiness  of  gaze, 
when  it  is  remembered  that  he  had  ex])ressed  an  entire  want  of  con- 
fidence in  the  experiment.  But  his  views  had  undergone  somewhat 
of  a  change.  Why  was  it,  he  mentally  inquired,  that  the  good 
Manitou  had  sent  the  little  bark  so  unerringly  on  its  course,  unless 
to  effect  some  good  end  ?  The  slightest  change  in  the  force  or 
direction  of  the  breeze  might  have  either  sent  it  wide  of  its 
mark,  or  whelmed  it  in  the  turbulent  waters,  yet  it  had  pressed  gal- 
lantly forward,  uninterrupted,  to  its  intended  goal.  Besides  this, 
there  was  something  so  incomprehensible  to  his  untutored  mind  in 
the  art  of  conveying  ideas  by  writing,  that  he  fully  expected  the 
talking  paper  would,  in  some  way,  succeed  in  making  itself  under- 
stood by  those  to  whom  it  was  sent,  whether  they  were  civilized  or 
savage,  and  that  a  response  of  some  kind  would  be  made,  either 
amicable  or  hostile. 

About  ten  minutes  elapsed  while  he  thus  gazed,  when  a  quick 
ejaculation  from  his  lips,  and  his  upward-pointing  arm,  directed  the 
attention  of  his  companions  to  an  arrow,  shot  with  seeming  defiance 
towards  them  from  the  enemy's  camp.  It  rose  to  a  considerable 
height,  and  describing  a  wide  curve,  fell  into  the  water  thirty  rods 
from  where  the  little  party  were  standing,  but  scarcely  had  it  struck 
the  wave  before  the  venturous  Huron  had  plunged  into  the  lake, 
and  was  swimming  rapidly  towards  it.  That  his  quick  eye  had  dis- 
cerned something  unusual  in  the  missile  was  evident  by  his  actions, 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  229 

and  his^  astonished  companions  watched  breathlessly  his  progress ; 
no  attempt  was  made  to  fire  upon  him  by  the  enemy,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  he  returned  to  the  shore  bearing  the  weapon  in  his  mouth. 
Henrich  ran  to  meet  him,  and  trembled  with  the  intensity  of  his 
emotions  as  he  discovered  a  slip  of  paper  secured  in  the  feathery 
haft ;  eagerly  seizing  the  desired,  yet  dreaded  document,  he  read 
the  following  words,  which  were  written  in  French  : 

"  I  cannot  read  your  message  ;  you  must  surrender,  or  I  cannot 
answer  for  your  lives;  we  are  thirty-five  strong,  French  and 
Hurons." 

"  God  of  mercy !"  exclaimed  Blanche,  "  they  are  our  friends ! 
They  are  probably  searching  for  us  !  Mij  father  has  sent  them  /" 
As  she  spoke,  she  glanced  gratefully  upwards,  leaving  in  beautiful 
ambiguity  the  meaning  of  her  closing  sentence. 

There  was  indeed  every  reason  to  believe  that  Miss  Montaigne's 
conjectures  were  correct,  and  so  unbounded  was  the  transport  of  de- 
light which  prevailed  among  the  little  party,  that  for  a  while  they 
were  incapable  of  taking  the  necessary  means  of  ascertaining  the 
certainty  of  their  new  and  exciting  hopes.  But  Henrich,  at  length, 
prepared  another  note  in  the  French  language,  as  follows  : 

"  If  you  are  a  French  party,  we  are  your  friends ;  this  is  Count 
Carlton's  command,  and  is  the  escort  of  Miss  Montaigne.  Attested 
by  the  totum  of  the  Lynx,  a  Huron  Chief,  who  is  with  us." 

Underneath  these  lines,  the  Lynx  drew  a  rough  sketch  of  his 
namesake  of  the  forest,  as  also  of  a  hand,  extended  in  amity,  and 
the  paper  was  at  once  transmitted  by  the  same  mode  of  conveyance 
by  which  the  other  had  arrived,  for  although  the  arrow  must  fall 
far  short  of  the  opposing  shore,  attention  would  now  be  fixed  upon 
it  and  it  could  readily  be  procured  by  the  other  party.  A  boat 
indeed  was  sent  out  without  hesitation,  almost  before  the  weapon 
had  touched  the  water,  no  fear  seeming  to  be  evinced  by  its  occupant 
of  any  evil  during  the  implied  armistice  that  was  now  existing. 

No  sooner  had  this  new  document  reached  the  northern  camp 


230  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

than  its  effect  became  \dsible  in  the  most  extraordinary  commotion : 
the  whole  l^arty  rushed  to  the  beach,  uttering  prolonged  shouts, 
flinging  up  their  arms  and  running  rapidly  about.  In  a  few  minutes 
the  boats  were  got  out,  and  the  whole  company  embarked  and  set 
out  for  the  smaller  island,  while  Blanche  and  Emily,  divested  of  their 
last  fear,  scarcely  refrained  from  fainting  with  the  excess  of  their 
delight.  Mutual  congratulations  were  exchanged,  and  the  Lynx  was 
about  to  despatch  a  messenger  to  bear  the  joyous  tidings  to  the 
count,  when  the  latter  w^as  seen  rapidly  approaching  in  the  distance. 
The  shouts  had  reached  his  ears  and  lea\dng  his  companions  to  guard 
the  southern  post  he  hastened  across  the  island,  half  dead  vnth. 
affright,  and  anxious  to  learn  the  extent  of  the  new  calamity.  As  he 
came  near  the  northern  shore,  he  caught  sight  of  the  approaching 
batteaux,  which  w^ere  now  midway  between  the  islands,  and  the 
crowded  occupants  of  which  were  still  making  the  air  ring  with  their 
vociferous  cries.  He  rushed  up  to  the  Lynx  and  Beaver,  who,  as 
they  were  standing  as  usual,  gun  in  hand,  he  supposed  were 
preparing  to  fire  upon  their  invaders,  and  exclaimed  to  the  former : 

"  Ah  !  this  is  horrible  !  thrice  horrible  !  but  do  not  fire  ;  it  will 
only  exasperate  them — they  are  too  many ;  perhaps  they  will  be 
merciful." 

"  They  are  our  friends !"  rephed  the  Huron. 

"Yes — yes — tell  them  w^e  are  their  friends,"  rephed  Carlton, 
whose  terror  prevented  him  from  comprehending  the  imperfect 
French  of  the  Indian — "yes,  yes,  tell  them  we  are  harmless 
travellers  ^vith  laches,  and  that  we  do  not  want  to  hurt  them — nor — 
nor — to  have  them  hurt  us,  will  you  ?"  he  added  eagerly. 

"  They  are  our  friends  1"  repeated  the  Lynx,  quietly, 

"  Ah  misericorde  /"  exclaimed  the  count,  still  unheeding  the  words 
of  the  other — "  ah  ladies,  this  will  be  sad  for  you,  too ;  you  had 
better  hide — it  is  very  dreadful :  ah,  how  fast  they  come — how  fast 
they  come :  don't  forget  to  tell  them  we  are  their  friends,  and  that 
we  can  ransom  ourselves  with  a  whole  boat-load  of  money — and  thej 


THE      KING      OF      THE      H  U  R  O  N  S.  231 

shall  have  ray  watch,  too,  and — and — all  that  I  have  ahoui  me : 
don't  you  think  you  had  better  begin  to  speak — see  how  near  they 
are—" 

"  They  are " 

"  Ah,  I  am  soiTy  we  killed  those  poor  fellows  this  morning- :  that 
will  make  them  very  fierce  I  fear — but  it  was  the  Beaver,  yes,  aha  ! 
it  was  the  Beaver  did  it — tell  them  so,  you  know,  and  if  they  must 
kill  somebody,  they  had  better  kill  him,  of  course,  for  these  Indians 
are  more  used  to  such  things." 

So  rapid  and  earnest  had  been  the  count's  language  that  it  would 
have  been  difficult  for  any  one  to  check  its  impetuous  course :  the 
calm,  dignified  Indian,  too  courteous  to  interrupt,  would  have  waited 
for  the  torrent  of  words  to  flow  by,  before  replying,  if  it  had  lasted 
an  hour. 

"  These  are  our  Mends,"  he  now  said,  once  more,  scarcely  conceal- 
ing his  contempt — "  see  !  they  are  our  brothers  !  they  have  come  to 
help  us !" 

"  What  ?  what  ?"  exclaimed  Carlton,  "  our  friends  ?  Is  it  true, 
my  dear  friend  ?     Is  it  really  true  ?     Are  we  really,  really  safe  ?" 

"  I  have  said,"  replied  the  Lynx,  coldly. 

"  Ah,  this  is  most  delightful  then !"  he  added,  breathing  freely, 
and  advancing  nearer  to  the  ladies — "  ah,  ladies  !  do  you  hear  ? 
you  are  safe ;  these  are  the  Lynx's  friends ;  do  not  be  alarmed  :  in 
a  few  minutes  you  will  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  us  exterminate 
those  fiends  on  the  other  island  :  keep  up  good  courage — you  are 
quite  safe,  I  assure  you." 

The  batteaux  had  now  approached  to  within  sixty  yards  of  the 
shore,  and  the  Lynx,  advanced  to  the  water's  edge,  was  already 
conversing  with  some  of  their  inmates ;  in  another  minute  the  whole 
party  were  on  the  beach,  crowding  around  the  Huron,  and  mani- 
festing the  most  lively  joy  at  meeting  him. 

Their  leader  was  a  French  sei-geant,  named  Grill,  who  at  once 
advanced  to  Carlton,  and  modestly  resigned  his  command  into  the 


232  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

hands  of  his  superior  officer,  expressing,  at  the  same  time,  his  great 
pleasure  at  having  discovered  his  mistake  in  time  to  prevent  serious 
consequences.  The  Baron  Montaigne,  he  said,  had  become  uneasy  at 
the  prolonged  absence  of  the  party,  and  had  despatched  him  with 
instructions  to  proceed  as  far  as  the  head  of  the  upper  lake,  if  neces- 
sary, in  search  of  them.  Their  own  safety,  he  said,  required  that 
they  should  destroy  or  capture  any  small  parties  of  the  enemy  whom 
they  might  encounter,  lest  inteUigence  of  their  expedition  should  get 
abroad,  and  their  return  be  intercepted.  This  was  the  reason  of 
their  having  pursued  the  count  in  a  hostile  manner,  being  prevented 
from  once  suspecting  his  true  character  by  his  change  of  the  canoes 
in  which  he  had  left  home  for  batteaux,  and  by  his  quick  flight. 

"  But  how  is  it,"  he  added,  "  that  your  number  is  so  largely 
increased  ?     Your  boats  seemed  to  contain  eight  or  ten  each !" 

"  Is  it  possible  that  you  do  not  yet  understand  ?"  replied  the 
count,  earnestly — "  I  have  but  one  boat :  the  others  are  Iroquois ; 
they  were  in  pursuit  of  us  when  you  came  in  sight :  they  mistook 
you,  as  we  did,  for  their  friends,  fired  a  salute  to  attract  your  notice, 
and  are  even  now  on  an  adjoining  islaHd,  kept  at  bay  by  a  few  of 
our  men !" 

"  What  a  tissue  of  blunders  is  this  !"  rephed  the  sergeant :  "  I 
mistook  the  firing  for  a  warning  from  one  of  your  boats  to  the  other 
to  give  notice  of  our  approach :  we  had  not  seen  you  until  then, 
when  you  both  seemed  to  fly  in  the  same  direction  and  we  pursued  ; 
but  we  vnll  have  them  at  any  rate,  that  is  to  say,"  he  added  in  a 
less  animated  tone,  "  I  must  beg  pardon  for  forgetting  that  I  am  no 
longer  in  command." 

"  Oh,  take  them !  yes,  take  them,  of  course,"  said  the  count — 
"  that  is  just  what  I  was  saying  to  the  ladies — surround  them — cut 
them  down — show  no  quarter  !" 

"  Do  I  understand  that  your  honor  allows  me  to  command  an 
expedition  against  them  with  my  own  men  ?"  inquired  Grill,  eagerly, 
and  fearful  he  was  in  error :  "  we  can  do  it  up  in  a  few  minutes,  sir. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  233 

and  your  men  must  all  be  fatigued  with  duty ;  we  are  all  fresh,  quite 
fresh,  I  assure  you,  sir." 

"  Yes — certainly — of  course,"  answered  Carlton  ;  "  I  give  you  the 
command  ;  we  are  a  little  fatigued,  all  of  us." 

"  The  Lynx  is  not  tired,"  said  that  personage,  who  had  approached 
during  the  colloquy,  and  stood  hstening  to  it. 

"  Very  well,  you  may  go  if  you  choose,"  said  Carlton,  taking  snuff, 
and  seeming  a  httle  disconcerted. 

"And  the  Beaver?"  added  the  Huron,  answering  an  animated 
look  from  his  friend,  who,  since  the  count's  return,  had  again  been 
struck  dumb. 

"  We  cannot  spare  all  our  guard,"  interposed  Blanche — "  let  the 
Beaver  and  the  soldiers  remain  with  us,  I  pray  ;  there  certainly  are 
enough  without  them." 

"  Enough,  enough,  certainly,  too  many  if  the  count  pleases,"  said 
the  sergeant. 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Carlton — "  let  the  Beaver  and  the  soldiers 
remain  ;  go  now,  and  see  that  you  give  us  a  good  account  of  them." 

"Let  me  implore,"  said  Blanche,  addressing  the  count — "that 
there  be  no  useless  waste  of  life :  they  are  human  beings,  and  let  us 
remember  what  were  our  feehngs  a  few  minutes  since  in  view  of  such 
destruction  as  now  threatens  them.  We  have  received  mercy,  let  us 
impart  it.  It  is  the  law  of  civilized  warfare,  the  w^orld  over,  to  spare 
the  foe  who  surrenders  ;  instruct  the  men,  I  beseech  you.  Count 
Carlton,  not  to  kill  the  prisoners." 

Carlton  informed  the  sergeant  that  he  might  consider  Miss 
Montaigne's  request  as  an  order,  and  directed  him  to  communicate 
it  to  his  men,  whereupon  the  party  hastened  at  once  to  their  boats, 
and  set  out  on  their  errand ;  a  messenger  having  been  first  despatched 
to  the  Algonquin  to  inform  him  of  the  changed  state  of  affairs,  and 
to  request  him  to  co-operate  with  the  attack  in  any  way  that  his 
position  would  permit. 

But  a  short  time  elapsed  before  the  sound  of  guns  was  heard  in  a 


234  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

southerly  direction,  followed  by  shouts  and  the  varied  cries  that 
attend  an  Indian  battle,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  the  canoes  returned 
accompanied  by  the  captured  batteau,  with  seven  of  the  Iroquois  as 
prisoners.  Three  only  had  been  killed,  and  the  victory  had  been 
achieved  without  the  loss  of  a  man  to  the  Hurons,  although  a  few 
of  both  parties  had  been  wounded. 

The  captives  were  guarded  on  both  sides  by  the  attendant  canoes, 
and  their  hands  were  also  bound  together  at  the  wrist,  yet  their 
leader,  a  large  powerful  man,  succeeded  in  drawing  his  arms  apart 
as  they  drew  near  the  island,  and,  determined  to  make  an  eflfort  for 
the  life  which  he  supposed  forfeited,  he  plunged  suddenly  into  the 
water,  and  sank,  hke  lead,  beneath  the  boats.  Twenty  guns  were 
instantly  presented  to  await  his  approach  to  the  surface,  and  every 
eye  was  scanning  the  water  to  watch  the  place  of  his  reappearance ; 
more  than  a  minute  elapsed,  when  the  shout,  "  there  he  is  !"  was 
heard,  and  a  head  was  seen  thirty  rods  distant  towards  the  eastern 
shore,  partly  protruding  above  the  wave.  An  irregular  discharge 
succeeded,  but  with  the  first  report  of  a  gun  the  Indian  again 
disappeared,  and  the  volley  proved  harmless.  Exhaustion,  however, 
evid-'utly  forbade  his  continuance  beneath  the  water,  and  he  almost 
immediately  rose  a  second  time,  when  the  Lynx,  mindful  of  the 
Beaver's  accurate  aim,  called  to  him  to  fire  at  the  fugitive. 

"  No — no — no — for  mercy's  sake,  let  the  poor  fellow  go — it  is  too 
horrible  !"  exclaimed  Blanche,  who  with  Henrich  and  the  count, 
stood  watching  the  scene  from  the  beach. 

"  Fire  !"  shouted  Carlton,  gesticulating  to  the  disguised  Henrich — 
"  fire — I  command  you  ;  Miss  Montaigne  will  have  the  goodness  not 
to  interfere :  Fire  !"  he  repeated,  himself  raising  the  Beaver's  gun,  and 
pointing  with  his  finger  to  the  swimmer. 

Henrich,  who  could  no  longer  atfect  to  misunderstand  his  orders, 
glanced  expressively  at  Blanche,  and  levelled  his  gun  towards  the 
Iroquois,  making  the  prisoners  tremble  for  their  now  seemingly 
doomed  comrade,  for  too  well  they  knew  ^the  fatal  marksman  and 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  235 

his  weapon,  and  they  could  not  repress  an  exclamation  of  rehef  and 
exultation  as  the  dreaded  ball  was  seen  to  strike  the  water  about 
three  feet  distant  from  their  friend.  Carlton  looked  angrily  at  the 
mute  stranger,  but  a  grateful  smile  from  Blanche  met  his  eye,  con- 
vincing him  that  she  comprehended  his  forbearance,  which,  indeed, 
had  been  no  less  in  compliance  with  his  own  sympathies  for  the 
fugitive  than  with  her  wishes. 

The  confusion  was  now  a  httle  abated,  and  a  boat  was  sent  in 
pm-suit,  but  as  the  swimmer,  having  fully  recovered  his  breath,  soon 
went  down  again  and  took  care  to  change  his  direction  while 
beneath  the  water,  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  follow  his  course,  and 
after  several  hair-breadth  escapes  from  the  shots  of  his  pursuers,  he 
finally  succeeded  in  gaining  the  land,  and  making  good  his  escape 
in  the  forest. 

Carlton  resumed  his  voyage  on  the  same  evening,  rejoicing  in  the 
security  which  his  increased  numbers  imparted,  exulting  in  his  vic- 
tory over  the  Iroquois,  and  believing  himself  altogether  a  hero  after 
Mars'  own  fashioning.  Never  did  returning  general  enter  the  gates 
of  world-ruKng  Rome,  after  desolating  some  distant  nation,  and  add- 
ing a  new  province  to  the  empire,  with  a  loftier  sense  of  his  achieve- 
ments than  that  with  which  the  self-satisfied  Gaul  now  embarked 
for  Castle  Montaigne.  He  resolved  to  lose  no  time  by  delay,  and 
not  again  to  jeopard  the  glory  which  he  had  acquired.  Nightlong 
he  travelled,  and  at  meridian  of  the  ensuing  day  the  converging 
shores  of  the  lake  were  seen  closing  around  its  northern  extremity  ; 
the  blue  waters  of  the  Sorelle  gleamed  in  the  distance,  and  soon  the 
vessels  were  gliding  upon  its  tranquil  surface. 

A  few  hours  later  the  rejoicing  voyagers  beheld  the  rugged  tur- 
rets of  Castle  Montaigne  gleaming  through  the  thinned  forests,  and 
saw  a  welcoming  cortege  thronging  to  the  river's  bank,  to  hail  their 
approach.  The  woodlands  rang  with  acclamations  as  the  coming 
vessels  were  seen  to  contain  the  prominent  objects  of  solicitude ,  the 
Baron's  daughter  and   niece,  the  Lynx,  the  Algonquin,   and  the 


J86  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

Count ;  even  Montaigne  himself,  forced  from  his  usual  coldness, 
pressing  forward  into  the  very  water  to  grasp  the  hand  of  his  sob- 
bing daughter,  and  imprint  an  unexpected  kiss  upon  her  cheek.  In 
the  background  the  timid  Myrtle  was  seen  peering  with  innocent 
and  wondering  face  at  the  strangers,  clinging  with  one  hand  to  the 
dusky  baroness,  and  seeming  like  a  rose  beside  its  root. 
Carlton  saw  her,  and  trembled. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  237 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

"  Good  sir,  I  do  in  friendship  counsel  you 
To  leave  this  place  :  albeit,  you  have  deserved 
High  commendation,  true  applause,  and  love, 
Yet  such  is  now  the  duke's  condition, 
That  he  misconstrues  all  that  you  have  done." 

—Shak.    As  You  Like  It. 

If  the  Baron  Montaigne  was  not  a  little  delighted  at  the  safe 
arrival  of  his  daughter,  he  was  scarcely  less  so  with  the  reflection 
that  her  rescue  had  been  achieved  by  the  count,  upon  whom  he  now 
looked  as  her  afiianced  husband.  The  exploit  in  a  military  point 
of  view  also  gratified  his  vanity ;  and  renewing  the  remembrance 
of  his  own  masterly  escape,  afforded  him  a  double  source  of 
triumph. 

"  You  have  done  most  nobly,  sir  count,"  he  said,  when  on  the 
same  evening  they  conversed  alone  on  the  subject ;  "  you  have 
snatched  Blanche  from  the  very  paws  of  the  British  lion :  you  tell 
me  there  was  an  attempt  to  arrest  her  as  a  prisoner  of  state  ?" 

*  Yes,  sir,"  rephed  Carlton,  who  had  heard  the  story  repeated : 
"yes,  sir,  on  the  very  morning  after  my  messenger,  the  Lynx, 
brought  her  out  of  the  city  ;  I  had  warned  him  to  lose  no  time ;  I 
had  told  him  of  the  danger ;  I  had  instructed  him  to  hasten  back 
to  the  camp,  and  he  came  oflf  with  her  in  the  night,  sir  ;  yes,  sir,  the 
next  morning  would  have  been  too  late  :  yes,  sir, — yes,  out  of  the 
very  paws  of  the  hon — it  is  a  very  pretty  thought." 

"  They  reached  your  camp,  then,  the  same  night,  I  presume," 
remarked  Montaigne. 


238  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURON  S. 

"  A — a — not  precisely :  we  had  started  forward  a  little,  finding 
our  position  not  quite  safe,  and  left  word  for  them  to  follow :  they 
overtook  us." 

"  Yes — yes "  said  the  baron,  wonderingly. 

"  Yes — out  of  the  paws  of  the  Lion — very  pretty,  indeed — yes, 
that's  precisely  where  she  was,"  added  Carlton,  anxious  to  divert  the 
dangerous  attack  of  minute  questions. 

"  They  had  discovered  her  name  and  rank,  it  seems  ;  perhaps 
they  had  even  heard  of  this  aflfair  of  Seabuiy,  which  would,  of  course, 
exasperate  them  ;  but  no  matter  :  she  is  safe  at  home  now,  thanks  to 
your  vigilance  and  valor,  my  friend,  and  we  may  now  snap  our 
fingers  at  our  Southern  foes.  The  details  of  your  report  I  will 
receive  at  some  other  time,  when  we  are  both  less  excited  and  more 
at  leisure." 

So  strong  had  been  the  baron's  prepossessions  in  favor  of  the 
count,  created  by  his  pleasing  manners,  and  by  the  Marquis  Vau- 
dreuil's  representations,  and  so  fully  had  this  impression  been  con- 
firmed by  the  success  of  the  recent  expedition,  that  it  would  have 
been  no  easy  matter  to  change  or  shake  his  views.  Nor  was  any 
such  labor  directly  attempted.  Rumors,  indeed,  were  soon  afloat, 
well  calculated  to  wither  the  laurels  of  the  hero,  and  to  transfer  the 
whole  weight  of  his  honors  to  other  hands,  leaving  to  him  the 
inglorious  substitute  of  ridicule  and  contempt;  but  they  did  not 
reach  the  ears  of  Montaigne,  precisely  because  there  was  no  one 
whose  peculiar  duty  it  was  to  bear  them,  or  who  was  willing  to 
communicate  unwelcome  tidings  to  a  haughty  and  opinionated  man. 
The  general  voice  had,  indeed,  accorded  the  credit  of  once  saving 
the  party  from  destruction,  and  again  from  a  most  hazardous 
engagement  with  the  Iroquois,  to  the  mysterious  hunter  who  had 
joined  them  on  the  way  ;  and  even  Carlton  was  compelled  to 
acquiesce  in  this  statement,  after  some  futile  attempts  to  evade  its 
force. 

The  Lynx  and  Algonquin  tarried  but  briefly  at  the  castle  on  the 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  239 

day  of  their  arrival,  being  prompted,  botli  by  their  domestic  and 
chmnish  feelings,  to  mingle  first  with  their  own  people,  and  enjoy  a 
breatliing  spell  of  I'epose,  where  they  could  recount  their  achieve- 
ments, and  exhibit  the  baron's  munificent  presents  in  proof  of  his 
approbation.  They  preferred  to  leave  to  Blanche  the  task  of 
unmasking  her  pretended  champion  at  such  time  and  }>lace  as  she 
should  deem  fit,  little  imagining  how  wide  an  interval  separated  the 
parent  and  child,  unbridged  by  any  familiar  or  confidential  inter- 
course. Besides  this,  the  extreme  respect  paid  to  rank  in  that  age 
had  secured  to  the  count  a  strong  party  among  the  adherents  of 
Montaigne,  both  civilized  and  savage,  and  the  four  soldiers  who  had 
formed  part  of  his  command  were  entirely  subservient  to  him  ;  so 
that,  fixed  already  in  the  baron's  prepossessions,  and  propped  by 
such  accessaries,  he  wlio  attempted  rashly  to  shake  his  position,  might 
only  succeed  in  jeoparding  his  own. 

The  disguised  Henrich  accompanied  the  Lynx  to  his  quarters, 
being  warned  by  his  friend  that  it  might  be  unsafe  to  expose  himself 
at  once  to  the  wrath  of  the  count,  and  the  easily  excited  suspicions 
of  Montaigne,  during  the  plenitude  of  the  former's  power  and 
infiiuence.  It  would,  at  least,  the  Indian  urged,  be  prudent  to 
withdraw  for  a  few  days,  until  the  sentiments  of  the  baron  could  be 
sounded,  and  until  Carlton  had  unwittingly  accorded  to  Huntington, 
in  his  assumed  character,  that  credit  for  his  achievements  which  he 
would  never  concede  to  an  acknowledged  enemy.  Henrich  readily 
anticipated  the  character  of  the  charges  which  would  be  likely  to  be 
adduced  against  him  by  a  man  to  whom  he  had  thrown  defiance  but 
a  few  days  previous,  and  how  apt  a  listener  Montaigne  would  prove 
to  any  accusation  involving  the  crimes  of  insubordination  or  mutiny 
against  his  own  delegated  authority.  If  these  ofiFences,  exaggerated 
by  a  malignant  ingenuity,  should  not  be  deemed  suflftcient  to  annul 
the  debt  of  gratitude  due  to  the  chivalrous  youth,  there  was  yet 
another,  in  his  conjectured  aspiration  for  the  band  of  Miss  Montaigne, 
which  would  more  than  cancel  the  whole  remaining  score  of  credit. 


240  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

Blanche,  indeed,  understood  Huntington's  withdrawal  from  the 
precincts  of  the  castle  to  be  only  for  the  purpose  of  a  re-transforina- 
tion  to  his  proper  semblance,  and  that  he  would  on  the  ensuing  day, 
at  the  farthest,  return,  accompanied  by  his  Indian  friends,  to  receive 
the  meed  of  applause  W'hicli  was  so  justly  his  due,  and  to  become  her 
father's  honored  guest  for  whatever  time  he  chose  to  continue  his 
abode  in  New  France.  She  knew  nothing  of  his  quarrel  with 
Carlton,  or  of  the  great  reason  which  he  had  to  dread  the  count's 
resentment,  and  if  she  had  at  all  suspected  the  views  and  apprehen- 
sions which  actuated  him  in  departing  with  the  Lynx,  a  sense  of 
justice  would  have  impelled  her  to  fly  to  her  father,  reveal  the  whole 
story,  and  secure,  at  least,  his  protection  and  hospitality  for  her 
friend. 

It  was  an  unhappy  error  growing  out  of  a  singularly  complex 
state  of  influences  and  the  want  of  opportunity  for  counsel  or  concert 
of  action  between  the  pretended  Beaver  and  those  who  were 
cognisant  of  his  real  character.  Had  the  latter  at  once  declared  the 
whole  story  of  Henrich's  heroism,  and  his  wrongs,  and  promptly  and 
unitedly  denounced  the  count's  injustice  and  cowardice,  there  w^ould 
have  been  some  reason  to  hope  that  the  baron  might  prove  a  just 
and  impartial  listener;  but  delay  and  indecision  weakened  their 
cause,  and  proportionably  strengthened  that  of  their  common 
adversary. 

If  otlier  excuse  is  wanting  for  Blanche's  remissness,  it  will  be 
found  in  the  sense  of  maidenly  delicacy  which  forbade  her  manifest- 
ing too  deep  an  interest  in  Henrich,  and  in  the  exciting  emotions 
incident  to  an  arrival  at  her  new  home,  and  a  first  interview  with 
those  near  yet  dreaded  relatives  who  had  so  long  occupied  a 
prominent  position  in  her  thoughts. 

The  Baroness  Montaigne  was  a  woman  of  about  forty  years,  of 
tall  and  comely  figure,  and  with  a  countenance  which  only  its  olive 
hue  would  prevent  an  European  taste  from  pronouncing  handsome. 
Her  features  were  nearly  regular,  and  her  face  was  entirely  void  of 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  241 

that  inelegant  prominence  of  the  cheek  bones,  so  common  to  her 
race,  while  in  her  well  shaped  mouth,  with  its  unimpaired  treasures, 
in  her  black  eyes  and  hair,  and  in  her  smooth  broad  forehead  there 
was  much  to  attract  admiration.  She  was  dressed  neatly,  in  the 
fashion  of  the  age,  spoke  the  French  language  intelligibly,  although 
with  many  inaccuracies,  and  but  for  a  subdued  and  timid  demeanor, 
would  have  manifested  no  little  dignity  of  deportment. 

Blanche  was  both  astonished  and  relieved  to  find  her  so  httle 
repulsive  in  appearance:  she  addressed  her  with  frankness  and 
courtesy,  expressed  a  sincere  pleasure  at  meeting  her,  and  was  by  her 
presented,  in  turn,  to  Myrtle,  who,  standing  like  a  startled  fawn  at 
her  side,  seemed  only  to  restrain  herself  by  an  effort  from  running 
away.  If  Miss  Montaigne  had  been  pleased  before,  she  was  now 
unspeakably  delighted ;  Myrtle,  whose  striking  charms,  both  of 
face  and  figure,  have  been  described,  was  dressed  in  white,  and  wore 
a  few  simple  ornaments,  and  her  soft  black  eyes  were  moist  with 
emotion,  and  her  glossy  raven  hair,  hanging  in  natural  curls,  trembled 
around  her  cheek  and  neck  and  shoulders,  as  she  received  in  silence 
the  sisterly  kiss  of  Blanche. 

What  were  the  forest  maiden's  thoughts  in  that  moment  of 
agitation  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  conjecture.  She  had  never 
before  seen  a  European  lady,  and  she  knew,  as  she  gazed  at  her  fair 
relative,  that  her  own  more  sombre  charms  were  in  every  way  outshone. 
The  entire  novelty  to  her  perceptions,  of  that  variety  of  beauty 
which  she  now  beheld,  added  to  its  value  in  her  estimation ;  a 
white  transparent  skin,  tinted  with  roseate  rays  which  seemed  rather 
to  shine  through  than  to  dwell  upon  its  surface ;  eyes  of  blue, 
eloquent  with  a  thousand  varying  expressions ;  soft  silken  hair, 
which  seemed  to  change  its  hue  with  the  changing  light,  and  yet 
was  ever  beautiful,  these  were  strange  and  enchanting  charms  to 
Myrtle,  who  possessed  an  apt  appreciation  of  elegance,  and  under 
other  circumstances,  would  never  have  wearied  of  gazing  upon 
them. 

11 


242  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

But  they  were  associated  now  with  mournful  thoughts,  for  she 
had  long  looked  forward  to  Blanch. 's  coming  with  a  sad  pivscnti- 
ment  that  she  was  to  prove  her  successful  rival  for  the  affections  of 
one  who  however  unworthy  of  regard,  did  not  seem  so  to  her.  She 
had  seen  only  the  bright  and  dazzling  side  of  (^ai'lton's  character,  and, 
despite  her  already  bitter  experience,  would  not  believe  in  its  dark 
reverse.  Was  he  faithless  to  her  ?  She  had  erred  in  ever  su})posing 
that  he  regai'ded  her  other  than  as  the  playmate  of  a  day — the 
httle  sister  of  his  future  brilliant  biide.  What  madness  indeed  in 
her  to  compete  with  the  magnificent  Blanche,  for  the  heai't  of  a 
man  of  taste,  talents,  and  fashion  !  Alas  it  wr.s  hut  a  delusion,  into 
which,  in  hev  simplicity  and  ignorance  she  had  fallen,  and  from 
which,  now  only,  she  was  fully  though  roughly  awakened. 

Such  were  Myrtle's  thoughts,  and  little  need  be  the  wonder  that 
it  was  witli  no  light  oi-  buoyant  spirits  that  she  recei\  ed  the  greetings 
of  Miss  Montaigne.  But  she  entertained  no  unkindly  feelings 
towards  her  :  she  had  hoped,  unconsciously,  guilelessly,  that  Blanche 
might  not  prove  to  be  endowed  with  extraoidinary  personal  attrac- 
tions, but  this  hope  had  vanished,  and  with  it,  fur  the  time,  almost 
every  other.  She  knew  that  her  father  designed  his  elder  daughter 
for  the  bride  of  Carlton,  for  she  had  listened  with  mournful  heart  to 
his  own  declarations  of  such  a  pur])ose,  and  had  heard  with  forced 
calmness,  and  even  with  smiles,  the  often  repeated  details  of  his 
plans  and  expectations  in  regard  to  it. 

Miss  Montaigne,  meanwhile,  most  fortunately  for  her  own  peace 
of  mind  suspected  nothing  of  Myrtle's  sentiments  either  towards  the 
count  or  herself.  She  gtized  upon  the  sweet  sad  face  of  her  sister, 
and  thouglit  it  was  seclusion  and  solitude  alone  which  had  given  her 
an  air  and  habit  of  melancholy,  for  she  did  not  reflect  that  when 
positive  grief  withholds  its  leaden  load  from  the  heart,  there  is  an 
internal  melody  and  beauty  ever  upspringing  from  its  mysterious 
depths,  impairing  to  all  things  their  harmony  and  brightness.  How 
4eep  and  intricate  a  thing  is  that  human  heart !     How  httle  can  the 


THE      KING       OF      THE      HURONS.  243 

eye  discover  upon  its  faithless  dial — the  face — of  its  inner  workings, 
of  those  subtle  and  involved  emotions,  which,  ever  impervious  to 
another's  gaze,  often  defy  even  its  own  analyzation !  AVorlds  of 
wearying  misapprehensions,  of  groundless  suspicions,  and  tangled 
errors  of  every  kind  he  hidden  in  its  darkened  vaults — but,  thanks  to 
Heaven  1  worlds,  too,  of  generous  and  gentle  affections,  of  unknown 
truth,  and  charity,  and  love,  viewless  to  man,  but  plainly  visible 
to  Him  who  formed  its  labpinthine  halls. 

Ignorance  of  Myrtle's  sentiments  was  not  the  only  immunity 
which  Miss  Montaigne  unconsciously  enjoyed,  and  of  which  she  was 
soon  to  be  deprived,  for  she  was  equally  unaware  of  any  serious 
desio-n  on  the  part  of  her  father  to  bestow  her  own  hand  upon 
Carlton.  Of  the  count's  ^vishes  in  that  respect  she  was  not  wholly 
unsuspicious,  for  he  had  found  time,  even  amidst  the  excitement  and 
perils  of  their  voyage,  to  pay  such  marked  addresses  to  his  fair 
charge  as  scarcely  admitted  of  misconstruction.  These,  however,  she 
supposed,  if  sincere,  would  soon  reach  a  point  which  would  admit 
of  their  suppression,  little  imagining  that  they  were  to  be  supported 
by  the  full  weight  of  parental  sanction  and  authority,  nay,  that 
her  whole  change  from  her  trans-Atlantic  life  to  the  western  world 
had  been  made  with  a  direct  reference  to  this  very  event. 


244  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 


CHAPTER     XXVIII. 


She  is  peevish,  sullen,  froward, 


Proud,  disobedient,  stubborn,  lacking  duty  ; 
Neither  regarding  that  she  is  my  child. 
Nor  fearing  rae  as  if  I  were  her  father." 

— Shak.     Two  Gentlemen  of  Verona. 

A  FEW  days  sufficed  to  enlighten  Blanche  in  regard  to  her  situa- 
tion ;  for  the  baron  was  a  man  direct  in  all  his  movements,  seeking 
no  subterfuges,  and  who  had  been  too  long  supreme  in  his  little 
forest-realm  to  fear  opposition  to  his  designs.  There  were  reasons, 
too,  connected  with  his  schemes  for  political  advancement,  which 
induced  him,  not  only  to  desire  an  aUiance  with  Carlton,  but  that  it 
should  take  place  immediately ;  for  it  would  connect  him  more 
intimately  with  the  Marquis  Vaudreuil,  whose  growing  age  and 
infirmities  induced  him  to  contemplate  resigning  his  office  as  Viceroy 
of  New  France,  and  whose  long  and  valuable  services  to  his  country 
almost  entitled  him  to  name  a  successor  to  his  post.  The  count's 
direct  influence  at  court,  also,  it  was  supposed,  would  not  be  incon- 
siderable, especially  when  he  had  returned  to  Paris  with  his  fair 
bride,  and  with  the  reputation,  magnified  tenfold  by  rumor,  of  hav- 
ing rescued  her  from  captivity,  by  a  series  of  exploits  unexcelled  in 
the  annals  of  chivalry. 

"  You  are  thrice  fortunate,  my  Blanche,"  said  the  baron,  when,  a 
few  days  after  the  return  of  the  party,  he  conversed  with  his  daughter, 
alone  ;  "  you  have  not  only  triumphed  over  the  English  and  the 
Iroquois,  but  if  I  can  read  signs  aright,  you  have  achieved  still  another 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  245 

Tictorj,  scarcely  less  important :  Count  Carlton  has  not  left  you  in 
ignorance,  I  presume,  of  an  admiration  which  he  has  already  freely 
expressed  to  me." 

Blanche  shghtly  colored  as  she  replied  :  "  The  count,  like  most  of 
his  countrymen,  deals  much  in  compliments,  and  Emily  and  myself 
have,  I  beHeve,  no  reason  to  complain  of  not  having  received  our 
share  at  his  hands." 

"  I  am  much  deceived  if  he  is  not  prepared  to  offer  you  the 
highest  compliment  which  a  gentleman  can  pay  to  a  lady,"  answered 
Montaigne  ;  "  and  must  congratulate  you  on  such  a  prospect ;  I 
need  not,  of  course,  remind  you  that  his  proposals  will  do  us  great 
honor,  and  that  you  will  be  able,  at  your  wish,  to  exchange  this  no 
doubt  dreaded  wilderness  for  the  gaieties  of  Parisian  life." 

"I  have  no  such  ambition,  I  assure  you,  my  father,"  replied 
Blanche,  with  a  serious  air ;  "  the  wilderness  has  no  terrors  for  me, 
nor  Paris  any  temptations ;  I  have  long  been  separated  from  you, 
and  should  be  unfilial,  indeed,  to  wish  so  soon  again  to  leave  you." 

"  That  shall  you  not,  if  such  is  your  desire,  my  child,"  responded 
the  baron,  with  a  gleam  of  kindness  inspired  by  her  remark,  and  by 
the  elevated  position  in  which  he  was  already  accustoming  himself 
to  view  her ;  "  the  Countess  Carlton  shall  always  find  a  home  here 
while  she  desires  it — yet  I  do  not  doubt  you  will  at  least  gladly  visit 
Paris  for  a  wedding  trip." 

"  You  misunderstand  me  still,"  answered  Blanche,  with  a  sweet 
smile ;  for  as  yet  she  knew  nothing  of  the  iron  will  of  her  parent, 
nor  of  the  unbending  strength  of  his  resolution  ;  "  it  would  be  folly 
to  refuse  an  offer  before  it  is  made,  but  if  you  are  really  cognizant  of 
any  such  design  of  the  count,  I  beg  you  will  dissuade  him  from 
it ;  it  will  save  him  some  mortification,  and  me  much  embarrass- 
ment." 

"  What  is  it  that  you  mean  ?"  exclaimed  the  baron,  severely,  and 
with  vast  astonishment, — "  but  I  perceive — I  perceive — you  wish  to 
avoid  a  personal  eclaircissement  and  to  have  it  all  arranged  between 


246  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

your  lover  and  mystlf;  you  are  right,  after  all;  it  is  the  more  dig- 
nified way,  and  not  unusual  among  people  of  rank." 

"  Why  will  you  misunderstand  me — father  ?"  replied  Blanche,  hesi- 
tatingly, yet  rising,  and  advancing  a  step  nearer  to  him  as  she  spoke ; 
"  I  do  not  like  Count  Carlton :  I  have  given  him  no  encouragement, 
and  vdsh  to  be  spared  from  openly  refusing  him  ;  I  repeat  I  do  not 
like  him,  and  never  shall." 

Montaigne's  countenance  no  longer  expressed  surprise,  or  anger, 
or  any  violent  emotion ;  the  cold  serenity  of  command  had  settled 
upon  his  features,  and  for  aught  of  feehng  evinced,  they  might  have 
been  marble  lips  which  now  rephed  to  the  young  lady  : 

"  You  are  unfortunate,"  he  said,  "  in  not  fancying  a  man,  who 
within  a  fortnight  at  the  farthest,  will  be  your  husband." 

So  saying,  he  withdrew,  once  more  the  stern  and  stately  man 
whom  Blanche  had  beheld  at  the  hotel  in  (Jstend,  all  the  slight 
relentings  of  his  gelid  heart  again  congealed,  aud  betokening  that  its 
winter  was  finally  set  in. 

Miss  Montaig»e  stood  for  a  -moment  awed  by  the  words  and 
manner  of  the  baron,  and  nearly  bewildered  by  her  conflicting  emo- 
tions. She  had  hailed  with  ecstasy  the  first  traits  of  seeming 
tenderness  which  he  had  exhibited  towards  her,  had  treasured  the 
memory  of  his  welcoming  kiss  on  the  day  of  her  arri\al,  and  bad 
begun  to  look  forward  with  fond  hope  to  a  full  return  of  that  affec- 
tion, which  she  still  entertained  for  him — the  result  of  early  instruction, 
and  of  habitually  exercised  duty,  through  the  long  years  of  her 
secluded  life.  This  dream  was  suddenly  dispelled  ;  these  hopes 
were  dashed,  and  her  own  perhaps  unnecessary  rashness  had  checked 
this  flowing  stream  of  kindness.  Pained  chiefly  by  this  reflection, 
she  scarcely  thought  of  the  real  danger  which  impended  over  her ; 
for  she  still  did  not  believe  that  her  father  was  capable  of  a  resort  to 
coercion  to  obtain  her  assent  to  a  marriage  with  the  count,  although 
she  well  knew  the  facilities  for  despotic  power  which  he  possessed. 

But,  as  she  reflected,  her  misgivings  increased.     Neither  Hunting- 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  247 

ton  nor  the  Lynx  had  yet  returned  to  the  castle,  and  their  delay, 
wliich  had  before  been  simply  a  matter  of  wonder,  now  created 
serious  uneasiness.  She  feared  that  her  father,  of  whose  discernment 
she  had  the  most  exalted  idea,  had  already  penetrated  Henrich's 
disguise,  and  even  his  sentiments  towards  hei'self;  and  that  this 
discovery  had  been  followed  by  the  summary  banishment  uf  her 
friend  from  the  country.  If  she  dismissed  these  aj^prehensions,  she 
yet  reflected  with  sad  forebodings  on  the  probable  reception  Hunting- 
ton would  meet,  upon  his  arrival,  which  might  be  hourly  expected. 
How  inopportune  was  the  time  tor  his  coming !  How  surely  would 
her  father's  suspicions  be  at  once  aroused  and  his  ire  {xcitod ! 
Herself  laboring  under  his  disfavor,  she  felt  painfully  conscious  that 
any  representations  which  she  could  make  in  Henrich's  behalf  would 
be  comparatively  ineffectual,  and  that  even  their  Indian  friends  in 
lauding  their  young  ally  must  proclaim  their  own  insubordination, 
which  alone  had  placed  him  in  a  condition  to  aid  them,  and  thus 
materially  lessen  their  influence  with  Montaigne.  She  even  thought 
with  shame  that  their  delay  in  re-appearing  at  the  castle  might  be 
occasioned  by  a  pusillanimous  fear  of  her  father's  censure  :o  the 
clandestine  act  which  had  enabled  Huntington,  unknown  to  the 
count,  to  continue  a  member  of  his  party ;  and  in  whatever  lig'nt  she 
viewed  the  subject,  she  saw  the  deepest  cause  for  regret  that  there 
had  t)een  any  delay  in  an  explanation,  the  hazard  of  whicii.  whatever 
it  might  have  been  at  the  time  of  their  arrival,  was  n^,.  ienio'd 
increased. 

The  baron,  meanwhile,  had  passed  from  the  preseiue  of  his 
daughter  directly  to  that  of  Carlton,  whom,  with  no  circ  ;  ocution, 
he  informed  both  of  Blanche's  sentiments,  and  of  his  ow.,  tentions 
to  disregard  them ;  in(piiring  at  the  same  time  if  0  :  ton  was 
conscious  of  any  cause  which  could  have  })roduced  so  un  ['.  cted  a 
result.  The  chagrined  count  was  not  backward  in  alleging  a  reason 
which,  while  it  salv<^d  his  wounded  vanity,  would,  he  well  knew, 
strengthen  the  baron's  resolution. 


248  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

"  Prepossessions,  my  lord  baron,  prepossessions  are  the  trouble," 
he  said  :  "  and  I  regret  to  say,  for  a  very  unworthy  object.  I  had 
forborne,  out  of  regard  to  your  feelings,  to  mention  to  you,  that  a 
young  man,  who  evidently  had  the  presumption  to  consider  himself 
a  suitor  of  Miss  Montaigne,  accompanied  her  from  New  York  to 
my — a — camp,  and  continued  with  us  as  far  as  Albany ;  even  there, 
I  with  difficulty  succeeded  in  dismissing  him,  after  the  most  muti- 
nous language  and  conduct  towards  me.  I  anticipate  your  question," 
he  continued,  observing  the  signs  of  wrath  which  had  gathered  upon 
the  baron's  brow ;  "  but  I  did  not  punish  him  with  death,  in  con- 
sideration of  some  services  which  he  was  said  to  have  rendered  the 
ladies  and  the  Lynx  in  escaping  from  the  city." 

"  Perhaps  you  were  right,"  responded  Montaigne ;  "  and  yet  I 
could  wish  it  had  been  otherwise.  You  amaze  me  beyond  expression  ! 
Could  my  daughtei-  have  so  far  forgotten  herself ?" 

"  Nay,  I  do  not  say  that  she  had  given  him  encouragement," 
answered  Carlton  :  "  but  she  seemed  fond  of  his  society — conversed 
frequently  with  him,  and  probably  fancies,  since  his  departure,  that 
she  has  an  attection  for  him." 

Montaigne  seemed  much  disturbed  by  this  intelligence,  into  which 
he  inquired  with  great  minuteness,  and  afterwards,  as  his  companion 
had  exjiected,  not  only  reiterated  his  resolution  as  to  Blanche's 
marriage  with  the  count,  but  expressed  a  determination  that  the 
nuptials  should  be  solemnized  with  very  little  delay. 

"  She  is  a  minor,"  he  said,  "  and  more  immature  in  judgment  than 
in  years  ;  I  have  the  legal  and  moral  right  to  dispose  of  her  in 
mari-iage,  and  believe  me,  sir  count,  I  shall  exercise  it  without 
scruple  or  remorse." 

"  Exactly  so,"  replied  Carlton  ;  "  Indeed  your  parental  responsi- 
bility for  her  welfare  requires  that  you  should  enforce  her  compliance 
with  what  your  riper  wisdom  approves ;  it — ah — really  becomes  a 
sort  of  moral  obligation  which  you  are  not  at  liberty  to  evade, 
although  it  may  be  a  httle  unpleasant." 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  249 

"  Not  a  whit  unpleasant,  believe  me,  sir  connt,"  responded 
Montaigne  :  "  I  have  spent  my  life  in  overcoming  obstacles,  of  one 
kind  and  another,  and  never  feel  more  at  ease  than  when  one  of 
these  famihar  phantoms  is  blockading  my  path  ;  I  glory  in  obstacles, 
sir,  and  since  Blanche  is  disposed  to  rebel,  I  only  regret  that  she  has 
not  a  little  more  force  of  will,  that  the  pleasure  of  subduing  it  might 
be  the  greater." 

"I  fear " 

"Fear  nothing!"  retorted  the  baron,  emphatically;  "go,  and 
propose  to  her,  but  with  no  school-boy  cant  of  sentiment ;  speak 
your  admiration  briefly  and  like  a  soldier,  and  tell  her  that  you  have 
my  consent  to  pay  your  addresses  to  her.  She  is  prepared  for 
your  proposition." 


10* 


250  •    THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS, 


CHAPTER     XXIX. 

Now  thy  beauty  is  proposed  my  fee, 

My  proud  heart  sues,  and  prompts  my  tongue  to  speak. 
Teach  not  thy  lips  such  scorn. 

Shaks.  Richard  III. 

Carlton  lost  no  time  in  obtaining  an  interview  with  Miss 
Montaigne,  still  flattering  himself  that  her  objections  to  him  were 
only  feigned,  or  that  they  would  readily  yield  to  his  assiduous 
addresses.  He  approached  his  subject  with  but  little  delay,  yet  with 
an  unquahfied  conceit  of  manner,  comporting  but  ludicrously  with 
the  idea  of  homage  to  his  lady  love.  His  habitual  fear  of  com- 
promising his  personal  dignity  proved  indeed  a  sort  of  check-string 
to  the  excesses  of  a  native  politeness,  and  produced  an  awkward 
melange  of  ardor  and  reserve. 

Blanche  took  the  first  opportunity  which  was  offered  by  any 
decisive  language  of  her  lover  to  express  to  him  politely  her 
declension  of  his  suit ;  but  the  count  did  himself  the  honor  to  hope 
that  Miss  Montaigne's  views  would  undergo  a  change —  "  that — in 
short — she  did  not  mean  decidedly  to — to — that  is  to  say " 

"  Decidedly,  sir  count !"  replied  Blanche,  "  it  is  best  to  be  plain  in 
the  outset ;  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  your  good  opinion,  but  cannot 
reciprocate  the  sentiments  you  profess  to  feel." 

'•'■Profess  to  feel !"  exclaimed  the  count,  suddenly  inspired  with 
the  hope  that  Miss  Montaigne's  coldness  resulted  only  from  uncertainty 
as  to  the  genuineness  of  his  attachment — ^''profess  to  feel  !  you  doubt 
me,  my  angel !  that  is  to  say — Miss  Montaigne  ;  I  feel  all  that 
I  profess  and  a  thousand  times — that  is — a  considerable  more." 


THE       KING       OF      TflE       HURONS.  251 

"  It  is  immaterial,  Count  Carlton,"  Blanche  replied :  "  I  did  not 

mean  to  question  your  sincerity " 

"  But  you  will  relent  ?  you  will " 

"  Never,  sir  count,  let  me  say  it  now,  once  for  all — never — under 
any  possible  concurrence  of  circumstances  of  which  the  imagination 
can  conceive." 

The  count  took  snuff  and  wondered  what  degree  of  force  of  will 
the  Baron  Montaigne  would  desire  his  daughter  to  possess  ;  he  gazed 
at  her  a  moment,  and  added  with  a  changed  manner  which  pro- 
claimi^d  a  conscious  security  of  position,  and  the  cool  insolence  of  his 
heart : 

"  You  are  animated.  Miss  Montaigne !  I  like  to  see  it ;  it  adds  to 
your  charms ;  you  are  a  cherub,  and  will  soon  be  a  coun- 
tess ;  the  baron  and  myself  indeed  have  long  agreed  upon 
a  union  of  our — our  houses ;  he  has  prepared  me  for  these 
eccentncities ;  I  do  not  take  them  amiss  ;  farewell.  Miss  Montaigne  : 
I  shall  have  th(^  ])leasure  soon  of  calling  you  by  a  different  title — 
and  then  we  will  laugh  at  these  little  pleasantries." 

The  suitor  reported  to  the  baron  the  result  of  his  mission,  and 
expressed  his  fears  that  the  young  lady's  resolution  could  not  be 
shaken. 

"  We  will  not  make  the  attempt ; — we  can  manage  to  dispense 
with  her  assent ;  she  owes  her  being  to  me — to  you  its  preserva- 
tion ;  it  were  marvellous,  indeed,  if  we  had  not  the  right  to  control 
her  in  a  matter  so  essential  to  her  welfare,"  said  the  baron,  seemingly 
arguing  against  some  latent  misgivings. 

"  Yes — certainly,  it  would  be  very  singular  indeed,  that  would  !" 

"She  shall  have  but  little  time  for  reflection  ;  promptness  is  ever 
one  of  the  elements  of  success,  and  in  a  matter  like  this,  may  be 
highly  essential ;  had  she  been  less  wilful  the  w^edding  should  not 
have  been  hastened,  but,  as  it  is,  a  week  from  to-day,  if  you  please, 
sir  count,  she  shall  be  your  bride." 

"  Certainly,  sir,  you  make  me  very  happy,  and  I  will  do  my  best, 


252  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

meanwhile,  to  overcome  her  objections  ;  if  I  should  be  unfortunate 
enough  to  fail,  may  I  inquire  how  it  is  you  propose  to  proceed  ?" 

"  Inquire  nothing,  and  doubt  nothing.  Count  Carlton  ;  only 
discharge  your  own  duty  and  beheve  me,  that  yonder  chapel,  which 
yesterday  resounded  with  the  Te  Deum  of  the  priests  for  your  safe 
return,  shall,  at  the  set  time,  hear  your  nuptial  benediction  spoken. 
It  would  be  strange,  indeed,"  he  continued,  after  a  pause,  speaking 
rather  in  soliloquy,  than  as  if  addi-essing  his  companion ;  "  it  would 
be  strange,  indeed,  if  among  all  the  cowled  priests  who  eat  of  my 
bread,  there  were  none  who  could  be  depended  on  in  an  emergency. 
Our  superannuated  Father  Parez  is  at  lejist  reliable,  for  he  is  well 
nigh  blind,  and  the  very  brother  of  the  adder  iit*  deafness  ;  he  will 
go  mechanically  through  any  priestly  function  that  may  be  designated, 
only  place  the  parties  befoi'e  him,  and  signify  to  him  whether  it  is  a 
wedding,  a  christening,  or  a  funeral,  and  it  will  be  sung  through, 
despite  any  interruption  less  than  a  cannonading." 

"  Ah  yes.  Father  Parez — 1  know  his  reverence — he  mistook  me 
this  morning  for  the  Lynx,  and  when  I  shouted  my  salutations  in  his 
e:ir.  in  the  very  best  of  Fi-ench,  he  thanked  me,  and  said  he  did  not 
understand  the  Huron  language — ha !  ha  !  yes,  he's  the  very  man." 

"  And  his  marriage  certificate  will  be  equal  to  the  pope's,"  added 
Montaigne — "  therefore,  I  say  again,  fear  nothing,  for  rather  than  be 
thwarted  in  this  measure,  I  would  bestow  Blanche  upon  you  after 
the  custom  of  the  nation,  of  which,  as  you  are  aware,  I  am  now  the 
principal  chief.  There  is  a  thing,  you  must  know,  which  cob-web 
spinning  lawyers  call  the  lex  loci  contractu — they  put  it  into  His 
Majesty's  gracious  noddle,  and  made  my  Indian  cara  s2)osa  a  baron- 
ess ;  the  marquis  has  told  you  the  story  of  course ;  and  as  it  is  a 
law  of  which  I  have  had  the  benefit,"  the  baron  smiled  bittei'ly  at 
the  word,  "  it  is  but  fair  that  you  should  have  it  also,  if  needed." 

"  You  are  a  most  potent  monarch  in  your  way,  my  lord  baron," 
replied  Cailton,  gleefully  ;  "  Prospero  in  his  haunted  isle,  was  a  pigmy 
to  you ;  1  rely  on  you  with  perfect  confidence." 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  253 

"  You  may  do  so,  sir  count,  and  believe  me,  that,  a  week  from 
to-day,  Blanche  shall  be  your  bride." 

The  baron's  excitement  prevented  him  from  observing  that  the 
door  of  his  room  had  opened  before  he  uttered  the  last  sentence,  and 
that  the  moccasined  Lynx  had  entered  with  his  usual  noiseless 
tread. 

"  How  is  this  ?"  he  said  sternly,  "  why  do  you  intrude  thus  upon 
our  privacy  ?  But,  I  am  wrong ;  he  comes  ever  thus,  like  a  shadow, 
and  has  never  been  reproved ;  if  there  is  fault,  therefore,  it  is  mine." 

"  Is  not  this  my  cousin,  the  King  of  the  Hurons  ?"  said  the  Indian 
gra^'ely. 

"  It  is — it  is,"  said  the  baron  ;  "  I  was  hasty,  the  Lynx  is  welcome ; 
why  has  he  not  brought  his  valiant  friend,  the  Beaver,  with  him ; 
there  are  piled  presents  awaiting  his  return." 

"  The  Beaver  shall  come  ;  my  cousin  shall  see  him,"  replied  the 
Indian,  departing  as  he  spoke,  as  silently  as  he  had  approached. 

Encouraged  by  the  manner  in  which  Montaigne  had  spoken  of 
the  disguised  Henrich,  the  Indian  had  concluded  that  it  was  a 
favorable  moment  to  produce  his  friend,  and  to  make  the  long 
deferred  explanation.  He  had  heard,  but  scarcely  heeded  the  baron's 
promise  to  bestow  Blanche  on  the  count  as  his  bride,  for  the  intelligence 
was  not  new  to  his  mind,  rumor  having  long  predicted  the  alliance, 
although  no  susj^icion  was  entertained  of  its  being  in  opposition  to 
the  lady's  wishes.  Sagacious  as  was  the  Lynx  on  other  points,  he 
was  quite  at  fault  in  all  the  signs  which  mark  affection  between  young 
hearts ;  the  trail  of  Cupid  was  invisible  to  his  eyes ;  and  he  had 
failed  to  discover  the  daring  love  of  Henrich  for  the  beautiful  com- 
panion of  his  travels.  If  it  had  been  otherwise,  and  above  all,  if  he 
had  suspected  the  baron's  knowledge  of  such  an  attachment,  his 
reason,  soberer  than  the  lover's,  would  have  anticipated  no  friendly 
reception  of  Huntington  by  Montaigne,  and  he  would  have  been 
spared  the  bitter  disappointment  to  which  he  was  destined. 
^  Bitter,  indeed,  it  was,  both  for  him  and  the  ingenuous  youth.    Not 


254  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

that  Henrich  had  been  unwise  enough  to  anticipate  a  very  cordial 
welcome,  or  insane  enough  to  hope  to  supplant  his  titled  nval  in  the 
regard  of  the  baron ;  but  he  had  expected  common  justice  and 
gratitude,  and  hospitahty,  and  for  everything  beyond,  he  was  willing 
to  wait  the  revealings  of  time  and  truth.  He  had  begun  to  feel 
confident  of  an  interest  in  the  heart  of  Blanche,  and  although  he 
knew  that  a  thousand  influences  would  be  brought  to  bear  upon  her 
mind  in  favor  of  the  count,  he  still  hoped  on,  vaguely  and  indefinitely, 
as  the  desolate  will  ever  hope. 

As  he  approached  the  castle,  clad  once  more  in  his  proper  apparel, 
the  appalled  count  discerned  him  in  the  distance,  and  a  sudden 
perception  of  the  ruse  which  had  been  practised  upon  him,  filled  his 
heart  with  rage  and  mortification.  He  kept,  however,  waiily  aloof 
from  the  visiter,  convinced  that  he  had  already  planted  a  petard  in 
his  path  to  which  his  own  steps  must  now  ensure  a  destructive 
explosion.  He  did  not  greatly  overrate  the  effect  of  the  suspicions 
which  he  had  excited  in  the  baron's  breast,  and  little  more  is  perhaps 
essential  to  be  related  of  the  interview  which  ensued.  The  ghosts 
of  past  offences,  and  the  phantoms  of  anticipated  wrongs  were 
conjured  up  to  meet  the  guest,  and  where  he  thought  to  be  treated 
as  a  benefactor,  he  found  himself  virtually  arraigned  as  a  criminal. 
His  advantages  of  person  and  education  served  only  to  increase  the 
disfavor  w^ith  which  he  was  beheld,  for  in  these  things,  his  host  saw 
but  the  confirmation  of  Carlton's  suspicions,  and  the  probable  cause 
of  his  daughter's  mysterious  conduct. 

Henrich  was,  in  short,  barely  forgiven  as  an  offender,  was  insulted 
by  the  offer  of  a  pecuniary  reward  for  his  services,  and,  if  not  denied 
the  hospitalities  of  the  castle,  they  were  tendered  in  a  w^ay  which 
rendered  their  rejection  necessary  to  his  self-respect.  He  departed, 
as  he  came,  wdth  the  Lynx,  more  cold  and  stately  than  the  man 
whose  presence  he  left,  and  scathing,  with  the  legible  scorn  of  his 
face  and  air,  a  heart  which  scorn  alone  could  scathe. 

He  did  not  see  Blanche :  she  knew  not  of  his  presence,  and  heard 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  255 

only  at  a  subsequent  hour  an  imperfect  and  unreliable  account  of 
what  had  taken  place  ;  and  it  was  in  vain  that  either  herself  or 
Emily  sought  to  gain  speech  with  the  incensed  baron  on  the  subject. 
She  learned,  however,  through  Myrtle's  agency,  that  Hen  rich  had 
taken  up  his  abode  with  the  Lynx,  and  rejoicing  in  the  security  which 
the  attachment  of  the  faithful  chief  afforded  him,  she  still  indulo-ed 
the  hope  that  some  returning  sense  of  justice  would  yet  actuate  her 
father's  conduct  towards  him.  She  did  not,  indeed,  anticipate  a 
change  which  could  ever  favor  Henrich's  claims  as  her  suitor,  but  at 
the  same  time  she  remained  comparatively  free  from  any  serious 
apprehensions  of  a  compulsory  union  to  another.  The  plot,  however, 
was  thickening  around  her,  the  mesh  was  entangling  her  steps,  the 
more  securely,  because  unsuspected. 


256  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS, 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

'Come,  Friar  Francis,  be  brief;  only  to  the  plain  form  of  marriage,  and  you  shall  recount 
their  particular  duties  afterward. — Shaks.  Much  Ado  about  J^othing. 

A  WEEK,  marked  by  no  important  events,  ensued,  during  which, 
Huntingto:i  continued  with  his  Huron  friend,  partaking,  to  some 
extent,  both  of  his  labors  and  his  sports.  The  Indian,  it  will 
be  remembered,  had  overheard  the  promise  made  by  the 
baron  to  Carlton,  that  within  a  week  Blanche  should  become  his 
bride,  but  the  subject,  exciting  little  interest  at  the  time,  had  been 
subsequently  expelled  from  his  mind  by  the  engrossing  emotions 
incident  to  Henrich's  reception.  It  recurred  to  him,  however,  at 
length,  on  the  very  last  of  the  limited  days,  and  he  was  little 
prepared  for  the  agitation  which  the  casual  announcement  of  the 
tidings  to  his  guest  occasioned.  Incredulous  of  danger  at  first,  doubt 
and  alarm  rapidly  succeeded  in  Huntington's  mind ;  he  believed  it  in- 
deed impossible  that  Blanche's  consent  could  fairly  have  been  obtained 
to  so  speedy  a  marriage,  but  he  knew  not  to  what  influences  she 
might  have  been  subjected,  while  his  knowledge  of  the  baron's 
character  taught  him  to  dread  the  worst. 

Filled  with  fear  and  anxiety,  and  feeling  his  utter  impotence  to 
stay  the  impending  blow,  (alas  !  might  it  not  already  have  fallen  ?) 
he  walked  at  dusk,  towards  the  castle,  hoping  to  glean  some  infor- 
mation, which  might  relieve  his  mind  fi'om  its  torturing  apprehensions. 
He  thought  it  a  favorable  sign,  as  he  drew  near  the  building,  that  it 
was  not  unusually  hghted,  and  that  there  was  not  the  least  of  that 
bustling   commotion,    which,    to   some   extent,    usually   marks   so 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  257 

momentous  an  event  even  when  it  is  comparatively  private.  He  had 
gazed  long  and  closely,  and  was  about  turning  away,  when  his  eye 
fell  upon  a  solitary  light  gleaming  through  a  window  of  the  chapel, 
an  edifice  of  considerable  size,  which  stood  without  the  walls,  about 
sixty  yards  north  of  the  castle,  and  like  it,  fronting  towards  the  river. 
With  the  sight,  the  remembrance  flashed  upon  his  mind,  that  the 
baron  belonged  to  a  church,  which  regarded  the  marriage  ceremony 
as  a  sacrament,  to  the  validity  of  which,  as  consecrated  hands  were 
essential,  a  consecrated  altar  was  scarcely  less  so.  Was  it  not 
possible  then,  that  at  that  very  moment  the  mystic  words  were 
spoken,  almost  within  his  hearing,  which  would  prove  the  knell  of 
hope  and  joy  to  his  heart  ? 

Resolved  to  know  the  worst,  to  behold,  if  he  could,  the  dreaded 
rite,  and  to  learn  at  least  if  there  were  not  some  tokens  of  sadness 
and  reluctance  on  the  part  of  Blanche,  which  might  take  from  his 
anguish  a  portion  of  its  intensity,  he  turned  quickly  and  with  reso- 
lute air  towards  the  church.  He  approached  the  principal  entrance, 
and  finding  it  closed,  passed  around  the  building,  to  a  small  postern 
door  through  which  the  priests  were  accustomed  to  enter.  This  also 
was  fastened,  but  scarcely  had  he  relinquished  the  unyielding  latch, 
when  he  heard  the  sound  of  coming  footsteps,  and  at  the  next  breath, 
he  discovered,  through  the  dim  light,  the  bulky  figure  of  Father 
Parez,  clad  in  sacerdotal  robes,  approaching  with  a  slow  and  heavy 
tread.  Henrich  stepped  aside  to  make  way  for  the  priest,  who, 
either  unobservant  of  his  presence,  or  mistaking  him  for  some 
official  of  the  chapel,  passed  him  without  remark,  and  applying  a  key 
to  the  door,  opened  it,  and  went  in.  Huntington  followed,  with  no 
attempt  at  secresy,  yet  unseen;  with  no  suppressed  tread,  yet 
unheard  ;  he  entered  the  main  body  of  the  church,  and  remained 
standing  near  the  centre  of  the  princi{)al  aisle. 

The  clergyman,  meanwhile,  with  no  little  rattling  of  his  robes, 
approached  the  reading  desk,  and  bending  for  a  minute  in  the 
posture  of  devotion,  rose  and  peered  earnestly  around  him  in  search 


258  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

of  the  wedding-  corUge  which  he  did  not  seem  to  doubt  were 
assembled  somewhere  near  the  chancel.  Failing  in  his  search,  yet 
supposing  them  to  be  seated  in  some  of  the  surrounding  pews,  he 
repeated  the  first  few  words  of  the  marriage  service,  by  way  of  an 
invocation  to  bring  them  forward  ;  but  the  husky  tones  died  away 
unanswered,  and  the  priest,  wisely  concluding  that  the  party  had  not 
yet  arrived,  seated  himself  to  await  their  coming. 

The  stolidity  of  this  conduct  did  not  fail  to  excite  Henrich's  sus- 
picions. Why,  with  quick  thought,  he  asked  himself,  has  this  palsied 
man  been  selected  to  perfoiiii  a  rite  like  this  ?  Why  is  he  unattended 
by  clerk  or  associate?  Why  this  dimly  lighted  room,  and  these 
closely  fastened  doors  ?  True,  the  appointed  hour  mig.ht  not  yet 
have  arrived  ;  the  churcli  might  yet  be  more  fittingly  hghted,  and 
its  })ortals  thrown  open,  but  with  such  fearful  conjectures  as  now 
forced  themselves  upon  his  mind,  he  resolved  at  least  to  seek  a  position 
which  would  not  expose  him  to  observation,  and  await  the  result. 

He  accordingly  selected  an  obscure  seat,  into  which  the  dim  light 
did  not  penetrate,  and  from  which,  unobserved,  he  could  plainly  see 
all  that  occurred  in  the  vicinity  of  the  altar.  Scarcely  had  he  done 
so,  when  the  sound  of  coming  steps  reached  his  ears,  and  startled  his 
throbbing  heart  into  increased  and  violent  action,  for,  on  the  revela- 
tions of  the  next  moment  would  depend,  as  he  supposed,  the  question 
whether  some  reluctant  consent  to  the  ceremony  had  been  wrung  by 
threats  and  entreaty  from  Miss  Montaigne,  or  whether  she  was  sought 
to  be  made  the  victim  of  a  still  more  perfidious  plot.  If  Emily  and 
Myrtle,  or  either  of  them,  should  accompany  her,  he  must  believe 
the  former ;  if  not,  there  could  no  longer  be  a  doubt  as  to  the 
nefarious  design,  and  he  resolved  at  least  boldly  to  lift  up  his  voice 
in  protest  against  it.  Yet  alas  !  what  could  he  do,  beyond  di-awing 
the  full  weight  of  the  despotic  baron's  wrath  ui)on  himself,  })roducing 
his  immediate  banishment,  and  perhaps  even  his  death,  and  that  too 
without  aftbrding  relief  or  rescue  to  the  object  of  his  solicitude. 
Racked  with  agony  by  the  impending  crisis,  which  even  his  ever 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  259 

elastic  hope  foresaw  no  means  of  averting,  his  eye  rested  upon  the 
now  opening  door,  where  he  beheld  Carlton,  richly  dressed,  entering 
noiselessly  and  alone.  The  count  bowed  low  to  the  priest,  who 
seemingly  unobservant  of  the  greeting,  continued  to  rattle  the  leaves 
of  his  prayer  book,  and  look  vacantly  around,  while  the  former 
remained  standing  near  the  chancel,  watching  with  a  nervous  and 
excited  air,  the  door  through  which  he  had  just  passed.  Five 
minutes  elapsed,  when  it  again  slowly  opened,  a  sob  and  voice  of 
entreaty  were  heard  without,  and  a  stern  reply,  and  the  Baron 
Montaigiie  supporting  his  half-swooning  daughter  upon  his  arm, 
entered  the  chapel. 

"  Not  here — not  thus — my  father,"  she  said  ;  "  if  indeed  it  must 
be  !  give  me  at  least  time  for  thought  and  preparation,  and  let  Emily 
and  Myrtle  stand  at  my  side  ;  I  appeal  to  you,  sir  count !  I  came 
hither,  as  I  supposed,  to  attend  religious  service,  and  it  was  only  this 
moment  at  the  door  that  I  was  undeceived  :  give  me  time — time — 
time  to  think,"  she  said,  faintly,  pressing  her  hand  to  her  head,  and 
looking  around  with  a  bewildered  air. 

An  air  of  some  incertitude  marked  the  baron's  conduct :  his  attempt 
at  a  surreptitious  marriage  was,  indeed,  only  an  experiment,  yet  it 
was  one  which  a  knowledge  of  his  daughter's  timidity  induced  him 
to  believe  would  be  perfectly  successful ;  if  it  should  prove  otherwise, 
he  had  other  schemes  in  reserve  more  certain  to  be  effectual. 
Seemingly  listening  to  her  expostulations,  he  had  contrived  to  station 
her  directly  in  fi'ont  of  the  priest,  and  while  he  replied,  the  count  had 
stepped  to  her  side,  and  Father  Parez,  being  notified  by  a  gesture  to 
proceed,  was  already  rapidly  reciting  the  marriage  service. 

"  It  shall  be  repeated  in  the  castle,  if  you  desire,  my  child,"  said 
the  baron,  speaking  in  a  far  louder  tone  than  the  clergyman's,  and 
endeavoring  to  distract  her  attention  from  what  was  taking  place  ; 
"  then  they  shall  all  be  present,  and  there  shall  be  a  great  fHe — only 
be  calm  now — be  calm — " 

"  Give   me  time — time,"  she  said,  heedless  that  the  priest  was 


260  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

rapidly  running;  through  the  mystic  ceremony,  and  that  the  count  was 
responding  and  bowing  assent  to  the  demands  of  the  ghostly  father — 
"  give  me  time  !"  she  repeated,  with  a  look  of  agony  at  her  parent, 
who,  under  pretence  of  supporting  her,  was  holding  her  by  the  arm, 
"  If  it  is  my  duty,  I  will  submit — but  not  now — oh  not  now — I  will 
not — can  not " 

"  Shall  not  !"  exclaimed  Henrich,  wrought  to  desperation  by  the  fear 
that  the  fatal  tie  would  be  completed  beyond  rehef — "  shall  not  !" 
he  said,  springing,  almost  at  a  bound,  to  her  side,  and  startling  the 
group  as  if  a  thunderbolt  had  fallen  in  their  midst — while  still  the 
nasal  song  of  the  priest  went  on,  undisturbed  even  by  the  commotion 
around  him.  Carlton  had  sprung  backward  and  stood  transfixed 
with  terror,  gazing  at  the  intruder  ;  Blanche,  released  from  her 
father's  grasp,  was  clinging  to  the  rail  of  the  chancel,  while  the  baron 
himself  had  receded  a  step,  and  stood  looking  with  such  amazement 
on  Henrich,  as  that  with  which  one  might  view  a  spirit  evoked  from 
the  grave. 

"  Shall  not!"  repeated  Huntington,  in  tones  that  rang  and  vibrated 
through  every  corner  of  the  darkened  building,  and  which  awoke  the 
automaton  priest,  at  length,  to  a  consciousness  that  something  was 
amiss,  and  caused  him  to  sus|)end  his  chant,  "  not  while  I  have  voice 
to  forbid,  and  strength  to  stay  the  unhallowed  deed  ?" 

"  What  madman  is  this  ?"  exclaimed  Montaigne,  nearly  voiceless 
with  rage,  and  stepping  towards  Henrich  as  he  spoke  :  "  is  it  thou, 
most  insolent,  and  audacious  ?" 

"  It  is  I !"  replied  Henrich — "  a  madman,  if  you  will,  yet  driven  to 
madness  :  listen,  lord  baron,  one  moment  to  me — for  her  sake — for 
yours — not  for  mine " 

"  In  the  dungeon  I  will  listen  to  thee !"  answered  Montaigne, 
stepping  towards  the  door :  "  see  to  your  bride,  sir  count,  while  I 
summon  some  men  from  the  garrison." 

The  baron  disappeared  as  he  spoke,  and  Carlton  stood  motionless, 
gazing  at  the  door  through  which  he  had  vanished. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  261 

"  Fly — fly — Mr.  Huntington,  I  implore  you  !"  exclaimed  Blanche, 
addressing  him  in  English,  "  you  do  not  know  of  what  my  father  is 
capable — go,  I  beseech  you ;  your  very  life  may  be  in  danger." 

"  And  you, — dear  Blanche  ? " 

"  You  can  do  nothing  for  me — I  am  lost — but  fly,  and  save  your 
life — the  Lynx  can  protect  you." 

"  And  he  can  protect  you,  Miss  Montaigne,  or  at  least  can  conceal 
you  until  this  danger  is  past,  and  your  father  relents — or — we  may 
escape  together — dearest  Blanche — if — if  you  will  be  mine  !" 

"  It  is  impossible  !  there  is  no  hope.  Go,  I  beseech  you ;  I  hear 
my  father  shouting  to  the  men !  oh,  they  vydll  surely  kill  you  !  go, 
go,  I  beseech  ! " 

"  Never  without  you,  Blanche  !  If  you  would  save  my  life,  fly 
with  me !  Oh,  resist  this  tyranny ;  there  is  no  law,  human  or  di- 
vine, which  requires  you  to  submit  to  it.  Will  you  go  ?  there  is  not 
a  moment  to  lose." 

Henrich  seized  the  arm  of  the  wavering  girl  as  he  spoke,  and, 
while  bewildered  and  undecided  she  yet  stepped  slowly  forward,  the 
count,  with  sudden  suspicion  of  the  movement,  shouted,  "  Stop  ! 
stop,  I  command  you  !"  and  advanced  hesitatingly  towards  her. 
This  movement  decided  Blanche,  and  turned  into  a  flight,  what 
otherwise,  perhaps,  would  not  have  become  so  ;  chnging  to  Henrich's 
arm,  she  darted  with  him  through  the  doorway  by  which  they  had 
entered  the  chapel,  and  as  they  passed  it,  Carlton,  more  courageous 
than  usual,  was  close  behind  them;  but  Henrich,  withdrawing 
Blanche's  arm  for  a  moment  from  his  own,  turned  quickly  around, 
and  thrusting  his  pursuer  suddenly  back  into  the  building,  closed  the 
door,  and  locked  it  by  means  of  the  key  which  had  remained  in  the 
outer  side. 

The  voice  of  the  returning  baron  and  the  tread  of  the  approach- 
ing soldiers  were  already  sounding  in  his  ears,  as,  again  supporting 
Blanche,  he  turned  an  angle  of  the  church,  and  sought  to  escape 
towards  the  forest,  the  dense  border  of  which  was  scarcely  a  huu- 


262  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

dred  yards  distant ;  but,  alas,  the  liea%ily  increasing  burden  on  his 
arm  told  him  that  Miss  Montaigne  was  incapable  of  flight,  and  in 
another  moment  he  became  sensible  that  she  had  swooned.  To 
carry  her,  unobserved,  across  the  interval  which  separated  them  from 
the  woods  was  clearly  impossible,  and  nearly  hopeless  of  eluding  ob- 
servation, he  yet  drew  her  closely  within  the  shade  of  the  chapel, 
and  with  fast  throbbing  heart  awaited  the  result. 

A  confused  sound  of  rapid  talking  at  the  same  moment  was 
heard,  the  crash  of  a  yielding  door,  and  then  the  count's  agitated 
voice,  shouting,  "  They  have  fled !  they  have  fled  !  get  lights  and 
follow,  towards  the  forest ;  cut  him  down  !  cut  him  down !" 

"  Silence  P''  exclaimed  the  baron,  in  a  voice  hoarse  with  terrific 
rage  ;  "  say  not  my  daughter  has  fled  !  The  miscreant  has  carried 
her  off,  and  he  shall  surely  die  for  the  act ;  but  take  him  unharmed  ; 
there  is  a  fitter  death  for  him  than  the  sword." 

So  saying  he  led  the  way  towards  the  wilderness,  and  in  a  moment 
the  whole  tide  of  pursuit  had  passed  by ;  yet  scarcely  had  Mon- 
taigne gone  a  dozen  rods,  when,  again  stopping,  he  called  aloud, 
"  Back  !  back,  half  of  you,  to  the  river,  and  guard  the  boats  ;  call 
out  more  men  ;  he  cannot  escape  us  !" 

This  order,  indeed,  anticipated  the  design  of  Huntington,  and 
seemed  to  cut  off  his  last  chance  of  retreat ;  the  river  was  about  thirty 
rods  distant  towards  the  west,  and  he  had  resolved  to  gain  it,  if 
possible,  when  Blanche  revived,  and  by  means  of  a  canoe,  set  out 
northwardly  for  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  Montreal.  In  a  few  moments 
the  returning  soldiers  again  passed  him  scarcely  twenty  feet  distant, 
eager  and  voluble  as  hounds  on  the  chase,  and  sending  one  towards 
the  barracks  for  a  reinforcement,  they  dashed  onward  to  the  river. 

The  whole  castle  was  now  in  commotion,  while  its  precincts  were 
alive  with  people,  running  in  every  direction,  and  inquiring  the  cause 
of  the  alarm ;  moving  lights  were  flashing  from  a  dozen  windows ; 
screams  of  affright  were  heard,  and  anon,  booming  loudly  above  the 
uproar,  a   cannon    roared    sullenly    from    the    walls.      The    baron, 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  263 

thoughtful  of  every  precaution,  had  despatched  back  a  messenger  to 
give  this  signal  to  put  his  Indian  allies  on  the  alert,  and  to  summon 
their  leaders  to  his  presence,  for  he  well  knew  the  extraordinary  daring 
and  sagacity  of  Huntington,  and  wisely  conjectured  that  if  he  once 
attained  an  advantageous  start,  there  might  be  the  most  serious 
difficulty  in  overtaking  him. 

It  was  in  the  midst  of  this  tumult  that  Blanche  at  length  awoke 
to  a  sense  of  her  situation,  and  listened  to  the  earnest  importunities 
of  Henrich  to  rally  her  strength  and  c<jurage. 

"This  way,  dear  Blanche!  to  the  river!"  he  said,  pointing  in  a 
direction  north  of  where  the  soldiers  had  gone — "  if  I  can  procure  a 
boat,  we  may  yet  be  safe." 

"  Oh,  no,  no,  Henrich  !  alone!  in  the  wilderness!  I  cannot  go; 
I  am  dying  with  terror  ;  let  us  stay  ;  let  us  return  to  my  father  ;  I 
will  throw  myself  upon  my  knees,  and  ne^'er,  never  rise  until  he  has 
forgiven  you." 

"  It  is  idle  to  talk  thus,  dearest  Blanche  !"  rephed  Henrich,  speak- 
ing with  great  rapidity :  "  he  will  not  relent,  nor  will  he  release  you 
from  this  hated  marriage  ;  I  have  learned  the  whole  story — it  is  the 
darling  project  of  his  heart ;  it  is  connected  with  his  })olitical  fortunes, 
and  for  this  alone  is  it  that  you  have  been  brought  from  your  home 
in  England.  Renounce  then,  these  scruples,  and  assert  your  liberty  : 
the  world  is  before  us " 

"  Hist !"  exclaimed  a  whispering  voice  at  their  side,  and  Myrtle, 
trembling  like  an  aspen,  stood  before  them  :  "  the  soldiers  are  coming 
this  way,"  she  said  :  "  you  cannot  escape  ;  every  point  is  guarded ; 
but  there  are  safe  hiding-places  in  the  castle,  where  you  can  remain 
until  means  of  successful  flight  are  found, — if  we  can  but  reach  them  : 
if  you  dare  to  try,  follow  me  !" 

She  turned  as  she  spoke,  and  darted  close  along  the  northern  wall 
of  the  chapel,  followed  by  Blanche  and  Henrich,  and  turning  another 
angle,  the  party  gained  the  front  of  the  building,  still  keeping  within 
its  deep  shadows.     Sc*arcely  sixty  yards  separated  them  from  the 


264  THE       KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

castle  walls,  but  the  intervening  space  was  alive  with  rao\'ing  fig-ures, 
traversing  it  in  every  direction,  and  shouting  unintelligibly  to  each 
other.  If  the  faint  starlight  revealed  no  one  distinctly,  neither  did 
it  admit  of  any  altogether  escaping  observation. 

"  Follow  boldly  !"  said  Myrtle  ;  "  there  is  no  other  way  ;  a  minute 
hence  and  it  will  be  too  late." 

With  quick  step  she  started  forward,  again  followed  by  Henrich 
and  Blanche  ;  but  scarcely  were  they  in  motion,  when  tw^o  soldiers, 
hastening  directly  towards  them,  struck  new  terror  into  their  hearts. 
But  Myrtle  advanced  a  step  to  meet  them,  preventing  their  close 
approach  to  her  companions  :  "  Go  quickly,  and  ring  the  chapel 
bell !"  she  said ;  "  why  do  you  loiter  here,  where  you  can  do  no 
good  ? " 

Zealous  to  do  something,  and  glad  of  such  a  commission,  the  men 
rushed  forward  to  the  chu*ch,  and  left  the  way  unobstructed.  But  a 
more  serious  impediment  was  at  hand.  Carlton  was  among  those 
who  had  turned  at  the  command  of  the  baron,  to  prosecute  the 
search  in  the  vicinity  of  the  river,  and  he  had  since  wandered  aim- 
lessly about  in  every  direction,  giving  a  multiplicity  of  useless  in- 
structions to  all  whom  he  met,  with  his  usual  bustling  inefficiency. 
He  was  now  almost  directly  in  the  route  of  the  fugitives,  of  w^hom  he 
caught  sight  nearly  at  the  moment  that  Myrtle,  with  quick  eye,  re- 
cognised his  figure,  and  diverged  from  her  course  in  a  direction 
towards  the  rear  of  the  castle.  Discerning  female  forms,  but  entirely 
unsuspicious  of  the  character  of  the  party,  he  still  approached  in  a 
direction  to  intercept  them.  There  was  no  evading  the  encounter, 
without  the  most  direct  flight,  and  in  a  few  seconds  he  was  at  the 
side  of  Myrtle,  who,  as  before,  had  advanced  a  Httle  to  meet  him. 

"  Ah,  ha !  are  you  out  in  this  tumuk,  Miss  Myrtle  T'  he  said, 
speaking  quickly  ;  "  isn't  it  a  maivellous  aftair — a  forcible  abduction  ! 
was  ever  the  like  heard !  But  w^e  shall  have  him — w-e  shall  have 
him  ;  who  are  these  with  you  P 

As  he  spoke  he  gave  a  quick  start  of  surprise,  but  immediately 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  265 

added,  with  seeming  equanimity,  "  Ah,  ha  !  I  see  :  Miss  Roselle  and 
— and  Lieutenant  Seabuiy,  I  presume."  So  saying  he  turned  away, 
with  quick  step,  towards  a  small  party  of  soldiers  who  were  passing 
at  a  little  distance,  leaving  the  greatly  relieved  friends  at  liberty  to 
pass  on,  which  they  now  did  with  increased  speed ;  but  only  for  a 
moment.  A  shout  and  rush  were  heard  behind  them — an  order  to 
stand ;  and  Carlton  again  made  his  appearance  in  the  rear  of  three 
soldiers,  who  rushed  breathlessly  upon  Henrich,  and  bore  him  to  the 
ground. 

The  screams  of  the  ladies,  and  the  repeated  calls  of  the  count  for 
more  help,  were  followed  by  the  rapid  running  of  people  from  all 
quarters  towards  the  point  of  atti-action,  while  the  dignified  Carlton 
continued  to  announce  to  the  successive  comers,  the  triumphant 
event : 

"He's  caught!  he's  caught!  I  did  it  myself!  T  found  him!  hold 
on  to  him  there,  boys  !  another  man  to  each  of  his  arms !  there, 
don't  let  him  slip  :  the  baron  will  be  here  in  a  moment ;  I've  sent 
for  him— ha !  ha  !  I  did  it  myself !" 

Central  amidst  this  group,  when  at  length  permitted  to  rise,  stood 
Henrich — a  prisoner,  pinioned,  hooted,  derided,  and  mute  ;  the 
agitation  of  hope  and  suspense  was  past — his  was  the  silent  serenity 
of  despair. 


12 


266  THE      KINQ      OF      THE      HURONS, 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

"  I  see  thou  art  implacable,  more  deaf 
To  prayers  than  winds  and  seas  :  yet  winds  and  seas 
Are  reconciled  at  length,  and  sea  to  shore  : 
Thy  anger,  unappeasable,  still  rages, 
Eternal  tempest — never  to  be  calm." 

Milton's  Samson  J^gonistes. 

In  a  dungeon  rayless  as  liis  heart,  Henricli  passed  the  ensuing 
night — a  night,  which  to  more  than  one  of  the  inmates  of  Castle 
Montaigne  was  replete  with  prolonged  misery  ;  a  night  dilated  by 
terror,  until  its  moments  became  minutes,  its  minutes  hours,  and  its 
every  hour  a  long  age  of  anguish  and  suspense.  Montaigne  had 
preserved  an  ominous  silence  in  relation  to  the  prisoner,  utterly 
refusing  all  intercourse  with  any  one  upon  the  subject,  and  giving  no 
other  clew  to  his  design  in  regard  to  him  than  could  be  derived  from 
a  knowledge  of  the  ignominious  place  of  his  confinement.  Vainly 
did  Blanche  seek  again  and  again  her  father's  apartment ;  vainly  did 
she  send  message  after  message  to  beg  a  moment's  interview ;  she 
received  no  answer ;  her  envoys  could  not  even  penetrate  to  the 
presence  of  the  forest  autocrat. 

In  the  morning,  Carlton  alone  was  summoned  to  his  room,  and 
the  sanguinary  nature  of  a  decree  emanating  from  such  a  tribunal 
may  well  be  anticipated. 

"  He  should  die,  if  he  had  a  thousand  lives  !"  said  the  baron, 
striding  excitedly  to  and  fro  in  his  apartment,  while  the  gratified  count 
stood  listening  to  the  ebullitions  of  his  wrath,  and  feeding,  from  time 
to  time,  its  flame :  "  the  disgrace  shall  be  wiped  out  and  for  ever ;  a 


i 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  267 

pardoned  mutineer  and  spy — he  has  revived  his  crimes,  and  added 
to  them  sacrilege,  and  the  kidnapping  of  m}^  own  child !" 

"Besides,"  replied  the  coimt,  "with  him  will  be  buried  the 
knowledge  of  some  circumstances,  which — are  all  right,  you  know, 
but  which  might  be  misconstrued  by  an  uncharitable  world." 

The  baron  knit  his  brow,  angry  that  his  secret  thoughts  had  been 
probed  by  his  partner  in  guilt. 

"  I  do  not  shrink  from  my  acts,  sir  count,"  he  said  ; — "  or  deprecate 
the  censure  of  mortal  man.  The  intended  marriage  was  right,  and 
shall  yet  be  consummated  ;  it's  only  obstacle  will  now- be  removed, 
for  mortifying  as  the  fact  may  be,  Blanche  has  evidently  felt  or 
fancied  some  attachment  for  this  miscreant.  Enough,  however,  of 
this ;  it  was  not  to  decide  whether  he  shall  die,  that  I  have  called  on 
you ;  for  justice,  honor,  and  the  preservation  of  disciphne  alike  require 
this  ;  I  only  hesitate  whether  to  accord  him  a  soldier's  death." 

"  He  is  not  a  soldier,"  answered  Carlton. 

"  He  is  not  a  coward,"  replied  Montaigne,  calling,  undesignedly, 
the  quick  blood  to  the  cheek  of  the  other ;  "  and  he  has  done  us  some 
service,  although  out  of  no  good  will,  and  only  in  the  prosecution  of 
his  own  most  presumptuous  purposes." 

"  Yes,  certainly,  of  course  ;  ah,  I  think  you  had  better  hang  him," 
said  the  count,  taking  a  pinch  of  snuff. 

"  But  then  the  other  is  a  simpler  process,"  said  the  baron,  "  and 
can  be  more  quickly  despatched — it  is  only  to  call  out  a  file  of 
soldiers  and  the  prisoner,  give  the  word  of  command,  and  it  is  all 
over — what  say  you  ?" 

The  idea  of  despatch  struck  the  count  favorably :  "  Perhaps  it 
would  be  best,"  he  answered :  "  I  beheve  you  are  right :  the  gallows 
would  add  nothing  to  his  infamy." 

"  It  is  decided  then :  go  if  you  please,  and  send  Sei'geant  Grill 
to  me." 

The  count  bowed  and  departed,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  sergeant 
entered  the  apartment  where  Montaigne  was  now  quietly  seated  with 


268  THE      KING      OF      THE      HtJRONS. 

no  trace  of  excitement  on  his  calm  stern  face.  Grill  was  a  very- 
machine  in  everything  pertaining  to  discipline ;  his  obedience  was 
as  perfect  as  clock-work,  and  had  almost  as  little  to  do  with  any 
degree  of  ratiocination.  That  an  act  was  ordered  by  a  superior 
officer  was  to  him  as  ample  a  justification  of  it,  as  if  its  propriety  had 
been  shown  by  more  than  Euclidian  demonstration  ;  and  as  he  now 
made  his  appearance  in  the  baron's  presence,  everything  in  his  air 
and  step,  and  in  the  quick,  sharp  tones  of  his  responding  voice,  spoke 
the  rigid  martinet. 

"  Sergeant  Grill,"  said  the  baron,  with  more  of  a  mild  and 
condescending  air,  than  was  wont  to  characterize  his  deportment  to 
his  inferiors :  "  Sergeant  Grill  will  have  anticipated  that  the  outrage 
of  yesterday  can  have  but  one  issue.  The  offender  dies  at  noon, 
to-day ;  he  is  to  be  shot,  on  the  green,  behind  the  barracks.  You 
will  detail  a  dozen  men  for  this  duty,  and  report  to  me  when  every- 
thing is  in  readiness." 

The  precisian  bowed  stiffly. 

"  There  will  be  a  strong  interest  made  to  save  him,"  continued  the 
baron,  "  and  I  may  be  compelled  to  hear  some  petitions  and 
lamentations  ;  if  you  find  me  thus  engaged,  when  you  call  to  make 
yom*  report,  remember  that  the  raising  of  my  finger  thus,  is  a  signal 
for  you  to  proceed,  and  while  the  work  is  being  done,  I  can  hear  the 
childish  supplications  through ;  the  easiest  way  to  answer  a  foolish 
remonstrance  is  by  showing  that  it  is  made  too  late,  and  the  sentence 
being  once  executed,  acquiescence  will  speedily  follow.  If  I  am  not 
prevented  by  any  such  annoyances,  I  will  myself  attend  the  execution. 
Do  you  understand  ?" 

"  I  (Jo — I  am  to  report  to  you  when  everything  is  in  readiness ; 
if  I  find  you  engaged,  this  motion,"  he  said,  repeating  the  one  made 
by  Montaigne,  "  will  be  a  signal  to  go  on  without  further  orders." 

"  Meanwhile,"  added  Montaigne,  "  you  will  hold  communication 
with  no  one  on  the  subject,  excepting  at  once  to  announce  to  the 
prisoner  his  fate,  and  provide  him  a  priest,  if  he  desires." 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  269 

Grill  again  bowed  and  departed. 

Blanche,  in  the  meantime,  with  the  aid  of  both  Myrtle  and  Emily, 
had  exhausted  every  effort  to  learn  the  situation  of  Henrich,  and  the 
nature  of  the  punishment  which  was  designed  for  him.  They  knew 
only  that  he  was  in  the  dungeon,  and  that  the  passage  which  led  to 
it  w^as  guarded  by  sentinels  who  permitted  no  approach  to  the 
prisoner.  Miss  Montaigne,  despite  her  knowledge  of  her  father's 
severity,  indulged  a  strong  hope  that  when  the  first  fierceness  of  his 
anger  had  cooled,  he  would  not  prove  sanguinary  or  unrelenting ; 
she  entertained  indeed,  no  faintest  suspicion  of  the  secret  sentence 
already  pronounced  upon  her  friend,  nor  dreamed  that  he  could  be 
doomed  to  death  without  some  show  of  trial,  either  civic  or  martial. 
When  that  should  take  place,  said  whispering  Hope,  she  would 
herself,  if  necessary,  plead  his  cause  ;  she  would  move  the  stony 
hearts  of  his  judges ;  she  would  in  some  way,  by  some  unyielding 
importunity,  win  lenity  in  his  behalf,  althouo-h  it  must  be  the  lenity 
of  perpetual  banishment  from  her  presence. 

Secret,  however,  as  had  been  Montaigne's  movements,  they  could 
not  long  be  concealed,  and  it  was  the  knowledge  of  this  fact  which 
had  induced  him  to  appoint  so  early  an  hour  for  the  execution. 
Conjecture  had  been  rife  among  his  retainers  and  dependants,  ever 
since  the  moment  of  Henrich's  capture,  as  to  the  punishment  to  be 
inflicted  upon  him,  and  the  first  note  of  preparation  for  the  sad 
tragedy  was  heralded  by  the  busy  tongue  of  rumor  in  every 
direction. 

Blanche  sat  in  her  own  apartment,  wearied  with  exhausting 
fears,  and  awaiting  the  return  of  Emily  and  Myrtle,  both  of  whom, 
with  untiring  assiduity,  had  sought  to  encourage  and  soothe  her,  and 
were  now  absent  on  some  mission  of  inquiry  and  observation.  The 
door  opened,  and  Miss  Roselle,  pale  as  a  ghost,  entered  and  sank 
trembling  at  her  cousin's  feet,  vainly  seeking  to  speak  the  words 
which  faltered  on  her  lips  ;  while  Myrtle,  with  extended  arms  and 
dishevelled  hair,  came  flying  behind  her,  not  voiceless  indeed,  yet 


270  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

scarcely  more   intelligible  in  lier   incoherence,   than  Emily  in  her 
silence. 

"  They  will  not  do  it !  they  will  not  do  it,  dear  Blanche,"  she  said ; 
"  do  not  be  frightened  ;  oh,  my  father  cannot,  will  not  be  so  cruel." 
"  What  is  it  that  you  mean.  Myrtle — Emily  ?  speak  quickly,  if 
you  would  not  see  me  die." 

"  He  is  to  be  shot,"  faltered  Emil}^,  "  within  an  hour ! " 
"  It  shall  not  be  ! "  exclaimed  Blanche,  springing  to  her  feet, 
and  looking  upwards  with  a  face  fi'om  which  grief  and  terror  had  been 
driven  by  a  look  of  the  most  lofty  resolution  ;  "  It  shall  not  be  ! 
Thrice  has  he  saved  my  life,  and  now — God  of  Heaven,  hear  my 
vow !  I  will  save  his,  or  die  at  his  side  ! " 

She  passed  with  quick  step  from  the  room  as  she  spoke,  motion- 
ing to  her  friends  to  follow,  and  in  another  minute  the  three  were  at 
the  door  of  the  baron's  state  apartment.     A  soldier,  acting  as  door- 
keeper, who  was  stationed  there  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  save 
Montaigne  from  the  importunities  which  he  anticipated,  informed  the 
ladies  that  they  could  not  enter ;  but  Blanche,  without  reply,  sprang 
past  the  surprised  sentinel,  as  he  spoke,  and  opening  the  unlocked 
door,  rushed  into  the  room,  followed  by  her  companions.     The  baron 
and  the  count  were  together,  seated,  and  earnestly  conversing ;  the 
latter  rose ;  the  former  remained  sitting,  with  fierce  and  frowning  aspect. 
"  You  have  sentenced  him  to  die  ! "  said  Blanche,  standing  before 
her  father,  with  flashing  eyes  and  pallid  face,  and  quailing  not  at  a 
look,  which,  under  other  circumstances,  would  have  paralysed  her 
frame ;  "  you  have  sentenced  him  to  die,  and  would  have  kept  it 
from  us !     Now  hear  me ;  for  I  have  come,  not  to  beg,  but  to  de- 
mand his  release.     By  your  sense  of  justice, — by  the  honor  of  your 
ancient  family, — by  your  self-respect,  and  your  hopes  of  happiness, 
here  and  hereafter, — murder  not  the  man  who  has  been  thrice  the 
preserver  of  your  daughter's  life — whose  single  arm  saved  us  all 
from  destruction,  when  this  miserable  man  played  the  coward  and 
poltroon." 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  271 

She  cast  a  look  of  unutterable  scorn  at  the  count  as  she  spoke,  and 
again  f^istened  her  gaze  upon  her  father's  face,  searching  for  some 
yielding  expression. 

"  Go  on  ! "  said  the  baron,  fixing  his  stony  eye  upon  his  daughter, 
with  such  relenting  as  the  rock  yields  to  the  rose. 

"  For  yourself  I  speak,"  she  said,  breathing  hard  with  the  violence 
of  her  emotion, — "  lay  not  this  sin  upon  your  soul !  nay,  you  dare 
not  do  it ! "  she  continued,  with  sudden  vehemence,  and  with  a  re- 
turn of  that  remarkable  expression  which  assimilated  her  counte- 
nance so  nearly  to  that  of  the  man  she  was  addressing ;  "  you  may 
be  absolute  here ;  but  while  from  yon  bending  sky,  God  and  angels 
watch  your  actions,  you  dare  not  do  it !  Oh,  my  father,  my  father !  " 
she  added,  unable  long  to  sustain  so  unwonted  a  part,  and  frightened 
by  a  changed  expression  in  his  face,  which,  whatever  its  character,  was 
not  mercy ;  "  save  him  !  pardon  him  !  spare — oh,  spare  his  hfe  ! " 

Emily  and  Myrtle  added  their  earnest  supplications,  the  latter 
now  sinking  to  her  knees  before  her  father,  and  now  chnging  to  his 
neck,  and  imploring,  with  prolonged  and  plaintive  accents,  a  remis- 
sion of  the  prisoner's  doom. 

"  For  Blanche's  sake,"  she  said,  "  for  poor  dear  Blanche — do  not 
be  angry  for  her  words  ;  it  was  but  your  own  high  spirit  which  spoke 
in  her  ;  oh,  have  pity  on  her,  father,  or  she  will  surely  die.  " 

"  You  have  all  spoken,"  said  the  baron,  at  length  ;  "  is  there  any 
one  else  ?  I  think  I  hear  voices  at  the  door." 

"  The  baroness,  if  you  please,  sir,  wishes  to  come  in,"  said  the  sen- 
tinel, thrusting  in  his  head. 

"  Admit  her ! "  he  continued,  with  the  same  calm  voice ;  "  we 
will  hear  them  all.  Are  you  also,  madam,  a  petitioner  for  the  pri- 
soner ? " 

«  Yes — oh,  yes,"  said  the  frightened  woman,  clasping  her  hands 
and  looking  everywhere  excepting  in  the  face  of  her  lord  ;  "  but  you 
will  not  hear  me — ^but  Myrtle  !  Myrtle  ! "  she  whispered  ;  "  speak  to 
him — the  time  is  short !  " 


2*72  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

"  Myrtle  has  spoken,"  replied  Montaigne,  "  and  I  will  now  answer 
you  all " 

"  The  Lynx,  if  you  please,  my  lord,  desires  to  come  in,"  said  the 
doorkeeper,  again  making  his  appearance. 

"  Let  him  come,"  rephed  the  baron ;  and  the  Lidian  stalked  si- 
lently but  swiftly  to  the  front  of  the  tribunal,  around  which  so  many 
suitors  were  clustered.  He  was  dressed  with  elaborate  care  ;  his 
scalp-lock  was  trimmed  and  adjusted  with  unusual  neatness,  and  his 
exposed  chest  was  painted  as  for  some  expected  ceremonial. 

"  The  Lynx  will  die  for  Henrich  !"  he  said :  "  the  soldiers  of  my 
cousin  shall  plant  their  balls  here,"  touching  his  breast — "  not  in  the 
heart  of  the  young  Brave  of  Manahatta  !" 

The  baron  scowled  ominously  as  he  hstened,  but  before  he  could 
reply,  the  door  again  opened,  and  the  Algonquin  was  announced. 

"  Show  him  in  !"  said  Montaigne,  now  folding  his  arms,  and  throw- 
ing himself  back  in  his  chair  with  an  air  of  composed  determination  : 
"  show  him  in,  Francis,  and  please  to  step  aside  and  leave  the  way 
free  for  future  comers ;  your  labors  must  be  wearisome." 

The  Indian  stationed  himself  beside  his  red  brother,  and  looking 
at  the  baron,  said  :  "  My  warriors  have  heard  that  the  young  Brave 
of  the  south  must  die,  and  their  eyes  are  wet.  Let  him  hve,  and 
they  will  heap  your  hearth  with  the  scalps  of  the  Iroquois  for  his 
ransom ;  the  King  of  the  Hurons  is  not  cruel ;  he  will  spare  his 
young  brother,  and  the  hearts  of  our  tribes  will  be  glad." 

"  I  have  heard  you  all — patiently  and  attentively,"  said  the  baron, 
looking  at  his  watch  as  he  spoke,  and  glancing  towards  the  door 
with  an  expectant  air  :  "  you  are  all  my  fi'iends,  and  if  I  cannot  give 
you  reasons  that  are  satisfactory,  within  a  few  minutes,  why  I  ought 
not  to  listen  to  your  i-equests — I  will  hear  you  further." 

Sergeant  Grill  entered  the  room  at  this  moment,  and  stood  just 
within  the  door, "erect  and  motionless. 

"  I  say  nothing,"  continued  the  baron,  "  of  the  nature  of  the 
opposition  which  I  meet  to-day  in  the  exercise  of  my  most  undoubted 


TttE      KIIS*a      OP"      THE      litJRONSi  ^73 

and  legitimate  powers — tlie  jDimishment  of  an  atrocious  criminal — of 
the  almost  mutinous  manner  in  which  I  am  beset  on  every  hand  for 
his  pardon,  as  if " 

The  speaker  paused,  and  catching  the  eye  of  the  watchful  sergeant^ 
made  the  preconcerted  signal  to  the  latter  to  withdraw,  and  fulfil  his 
work,  and  as  the  officer  silently  departed,  he  continued — 

" 'as  if  I  were  incompetent  to  administer  the  laws  of  my  own 

domain — nay,  with  a  spirit  that  imputes  to  me  more  than  the  guilt 
of  the  accused,  and  would  hold  him  innocent.  For  this  cause  alone 
which  strikes  at  the  very  foundation  of  my  authority,  I  should  be 
compelled  to  deny  your  requests ;  when  I  add  to  them  the  heinous 
nature  of  the  crimes  to  be  punished — crimes  both  private  and 
political — 'Committed  by  a  citizen  of  a  country  v/ith  which  we  are  at 
war, — while  he  was  in  fact  receiving  our  protection -" 

The  baron  paused,  and  looked  impatiently  at  his  watch,  and  then, 
turning  towards  the  window,  assumed  a  listening  attitude  : 

" and — and — ^our  hospitality  ;    when   all   these   things    are 

considered,  I  say,  it  becomes  a  matter  of  surprise  that  any  should  be 
found  who  could  indulge  the  hope  of  lenitj^  to  the  prisoner.  Some 
of  you,  who  know  nothing  of  the  principles  of  government,  or  of  the 
degree  of  rigidity  in  its  laws  v>'hich  is  essential  to  its  safety,  are  more 
excusable  :  but  there  are  those  here,"  he  added,  glancing  at  the 
Indians,  "  who  compel  me  to  remind  them  that  I  have  lately  over- 
looked serious  offences  of  their  own — offences  which  have  led 
indirectly,  to  this  very  crime,  which  is  to-day  to  be  expiated." 

"No — no — no — oh  say  not  so,  my  father — "  Blanche  replied 
rapidly,  and  in  tones  of  agony^-"  you  will  at  least  take  one  day  for 
deliberation ;  you  Avill  hear  his  defence — his  vindication — ^you  will 
not — cannot  condemn  him  unheard  ?" 

"  Unheard  f  answered  the  baron  in  a  voice  of  grating  harshness — 
"  unheard  ?  Have  I  not  myself  been  a  spectator  of  his  crime  ? 
Shall  I  summon  witnesses  to  prove  what  my  own  eyes  have 
beheld?" 

12* 


274  TttE     tilNG      01'     THE      tttlR0N8. 

"  But  you  will  take  one  day — oh,  one  day  for  reflection,''  she  con- 
tinued with  choked  and  tremulous  articulation,  and  extending  her 
clasped  hands  towards  her  parent ;  "  let  it  at  least  not  be  with  the 
setting  of  this  sun  that  he  dies  ;  think— oh  think,  if  to-morrow  you 
should  regret  it — -it  will  then  be  for  ever  too  late." 

"  If  to-morrow  I  should — regret  it,"  replied  the  baron,  slowly  ; 
"  if  to-morrow  I  should — regret  it — then — "  and  again  the  speaker 
paused — and  listened  ! 

His  gaze  was  outward,  through  the  window,  and  Blanche,  whose 
eyes  were  fixed  upon  his,  seemed  suddenly  electrified  by  their 
expression ;  a  dreadful  suspicion  flashed  upon  her  mind,  and  uttering 
a  piercing  scream,  she  sprang  to  the  door,  and  in  another  breath,  her 
shrieks  were  heard  from  without,  as  she  darted  along  the  hall  and 
into  the  inner  court  of  the  castle.  In  a  moment  everything  was 
uproar  and  confusion ;  Myrtle  and  Emily  rushed  in  pursuit,  and  the 
Lynx,  catching  with  quick  suspicion  the  meaning  of  the  movement, 
leaped,  hke  a  loosened  tiger,  through  the  doorway. 

Blanche  meanwhile,  whose  eyes,  running  rapidly  over  the  ground, 
had  failed  to  discover  the  dreaded  sight  which  she  anticipated,  had 
taken  a  direction  toAvards  the  barracks,  and  turned  the  corner  of  the 
buildings  just  as  the  quick  sharp  voice  of  Sergeant  Grill  rang  upon 
the  air,  and  the  presented  arms  of  the  soldiers  waited  but  the  final 
monosyllabic  order,  to  pour  forth  their  deadly  contents.  Her  white 
robes  flashed  for  a  moment  on  the  eyes  of  the  astonished  soldiers,  as 
she  passed  directly  in  front  of  their  upraised  weapons,  and  in  the  same 
moment,  stood  panting  and  speechless  before  the  kneeling  prisoner. 
Her  form  intercepted  the  view  of  his ;  her  arms  were  extended — her 
chest  rose  and  fell  with  the  stormy  violence  of  her  emotion,  and  flash- 
ing eye,  and  flaring  nostril,  and  quivering  lip,  spoke  the  raging 
tumult  within. 

"  Remove  her  !"  shouted  Grill,  and  one  from  the  line  stepped 
quickly  forward  for  that  purpose,  but,  ere  he  had  reached  Miss 
Montaigne,  the  Lynx  was  at  her  side,  menacing,  with  drawn  knife, 
the  approaching  soldier,  who  hesitated  and  looked  back  for  aid. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  275 

The  Huron  meanwhile  addressed  Henrich,  whose  bandaged  eyes 
had,  up  to  this  moment,  taken  no  cognisance  of  the  strange  interrup- 
tion to  the  melancholy  drama. 

"I  have  come  to  die  for  you,  my  brother,"  he  said,  quickly 
removing  the  handkerchief  from  the  prisoner's  face ;  "  the  King  of 
the  Hurons  will  hear  my  words,  for  the  Lynx  is  a  chief,  and  hundreds 
of  warriors  shout  his  battle-cry;  rise,  my  brother,  and  when  you 
return  to  Manahatta,  tell  the  Wappeno  dogs  that  the  Lynx  was  not 
afraid  to  die." 

But  ere  he  had  finished  speaking,  other  actors  were  added  to  the 
scene ;  Emily  and  Myrtle  had  arrived,  followed  at  a  short  interval 
by  the  baron,  the  count,  and  the  Algonquin  Indian. 

"  See  how  rapidly  spreads  the  contagion  of  mutiny  and  treason  ! " 
shouted  Montaigne.  "  Sergeant  Grill,  remove  these,  and  complete 
your  work  ;  let  Miss  Montaigne  be  conveyed  to  her  room  ;  you,  sir, 
must  answer  for  this  delay  ! " 

"  Hear  me,  my  father,  once  more  !  "  exclaimed  Blanche,  main- 
taining her  position  by  clinging  to  the  arm  of  the  Huron,  whom  no 
one  seemed  disposed  to  interfere  with ;  "  spare  but  his  life, — send 
him  forth  in  ignominy  and  alone,  to  regain  his  home, — and  I  here 
promise  to  be  obedient  to  all  your  requests ;  I  promise,  within  two 
days,  peaceably  and  unrepining,  to  become,  if  you  desire  it,  the  bride 
of  Count  Carlton  ;  "  she  glanced  shudderingly  at  the  latter  as  she 
spoke ;  "  but  if  you  will  not  hear  me,  I  here  solemnly  swear  that  I 
will  never  accede  to  your  wishes  ;  never  shall  this  man  clasp  hand  of 
mine  while  I  have  life  and  strength  to  prevent  it.  Here  will  I  stay, 
until  torn  by  force  away  ;  and  him,  whom,  li^dng,  I  might  have  for- 
gotten, dead,  I  will  for  ever  love ;  he  shall  be  enshrined  in  my  heart, 
and  while  life  endures,  it  shall  have  no  other  occupant," 

As  the  baron  looked  around,  he  saw,  through  an  open  gateway,  a 
crowd  of  Huron  warriors  looking  with  sullen  aspect  upon  the  scene, 
and  recognised  them  as  the  immediate  followers  of  the  Lynx ;  they 
were   doubtless  assembled,  unbidden  ;  yet,  in  the  present  excited 


276  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

state  of  all  parties,  there  might  be  serious  danger  in  attempting  to 
arrest  the  Hm-on,  or  in  applying  any  force  to  compel  him  to  abandon 
his  position.  Blanche's  resolute  language,  and  above  all,  her  pro- 
mise to  consent  to  a  marriage  with  Carlton,  had  nearly  moved  him 
to  a  compliance,  which  only  the  strong  pride  of  will  restrained  ;  but 
now  even  that  yielded. 

"  I  accept  your  terms,  Miss  Montaigne,"  he  said  ;  "  and  be  assured, 
I  shall  hold  you  most  strictly  to  them  ;  this  miserable  man  shall 
receive  lenity, — such  lenity  as  consists  with  an  immediate  banishment 
from  the  territory  of  New  France,  under  penalty  of  instant  death  if 
found  after  twelve  hours  upon  our  soil.  Sergeant,  remove  your 
men!" 

Blanche  had  been  excited  to  the  last  endurable  degi*ee  of  inten- 
sity ;  a  sudden  reaction  now  took  place,  which  reduced  her  to  a  state 
of  stupor  and  bewilderment  bordering  on  a  swoon.  When  she  re- 
covered, she  was  in  her  own  apartment,  and  Huntington  was  already 
without  the  castle  walls. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  27Y 


CHAPTER   XXXII 


♦' if  to  robe 

This  form  in  bridal  ornaments,  to  smile 
(I  can  smile  yet,)  at  thy  gay  feast,  and  stand 
At  th'  altar  by  thy  side ;  if  this  be  deemed 
Enough,  it  shall  be  done  " 

Mrs.  Hemans. —  The  Vespers  of  Palermo. 


More  malignant  than  Montaigne,  and  equally  inexorable,  Count 
Carlton  had  hoped  and  believed  that  the  baron  would  not  yield 
either  to  emotions  of  pity  or  fear  \  but  when  he  reflected  upon  the 
conditions  with  which  pardon  had  been  coupled,  he  did  not  deeply 
regret  the  turn  which  events  had  talien.  Huntington  was  perpetu- 
ally banished,  and  Blanche  had  bound  her  conscience  by  a  solemn 
promise  to  become  his  bride  within  two  days ;  so  that,  after  all,  a.'^ 
he  argued  the  matter  to  himself,  everything  had  turned  out  for  the 
best,  as  it  always  does  to  the  virtuous  and  just. 

Miss  Montaigne,  meanwhile,  counted  her  remaining  hours  of  free- 
dom, and  watched  their  departure  with  a  miser's  jealous  cai-e.  She 
had  no  design  of  retracting  the  dreadfrJ  pledge  which  she  had  given^ 
or  of  shrinking  from  a  fulfilment  of  her  contract;  she  had  pur- 
chased Henrlch's  life ;  and,  fearful  as  the  price  must  prove,  she  re- 
solved to  pay  it  without  a  murmur ;  the  solace  of  her  act  would  ai 
least  remain  to  her  while  life  endured,  which  returning  hope  sug- 
ojested  could  not  be  loni)-. 

Emily  proved  an  assiduous  and  zealous,  if  not  altogether  a  dis- 
creet friend,  in  the  hour  of  her  cousin's  calamit}^ 


278  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

"  Cheer  up,  dear  Blanche,"  she  said,  when,  on  the  evening  of  the 
day  in  which  the  exciting  events  last  related  had  occurred,  they  sat 
together  in  the  apartment  of  Miss  Montaigne  ;  "  the  worst,  at  least, 
is  escaped  ;  and  as  to  the  rest — why,  you  are  not  the  first  lady  who 
has  lost  a  lover — nor  is  it  so  dreadful  a  fate  to  become  a  countess, 
after  all." 

Blanche  sat  by  an  open  casement,  looking  with  fixed  and  vacant 
gaze  upon  the  distant  forests  ;  but  her  senses  took  little  cognizance 
of  what  was  passing  before  them,  and  the  words  of  Emily  did  not 
wound. 

"  It  will  be  all  the  same  a  hundred  years  hence,"  Miss  Roselle 
continued,  using  one  of  those  consolatory  maxims  which  are  ever  at 
the  tongue's  end  of  people  who  know  nothing  of  misery  by  experi- 
ence;  "you  will  forget  it  very  soon,  I  assure; you,  particularly  when 
you  reach  Paris.  I  wonder,  by  the  way,  if  they  have  any  decent 
stuff  in  Quebec  for  dresses :  nothing  fit  for  a  bride,  I'll  be  bound ; 
and  as  to  Henrich,  you  need  not  grieve  on  his  account ;  he'll  be 
safely  home  in  a  week,  and  will  think  no  more  about  it ;  I  should 
not  wonder,  indeed,  if  he  were  married  in  three  months  to  somebody 
else." 

Blanche  remained  heedless,  and  Emily,  becoming  conscious  that 
her  words  were  not  heard,  ceased  to  speak,  only  resuming  her 
efforts  at  long  intervals,  and  starting  a  dozen  different  themes  with 
the  vain  hope  of  arousing  her  cousin's  attention.  Miss  Montaigne 
did  not  weep,  nor  did  any  external  signs  mark  her  misery,  excepting 
the  pallid  cheek,  and  absent  air,  and  that  still  stupor  of  deportment 
which  speaks  the  paralysis  of  the  heart.  If  she  found  voice,  at 
times,  it  was  only  to  inquire,  with  a  repetition  that  evinced  a  wan- 
dering mind,  the  particulars  of  Henrich's  departure. 

"  Did  not  some  one  tell  me  that  he  went  away  with  the  good 
Lynx,"  she  asked,  "  and  that  the  Indian  promised  to  send  some  one 
with  him  on  his  journey  ?" 

"  Yes,  Blanche,  they  went  out  of  the  castle  yard  together,  and 


TttE     KING      OF     THE     HURON  S.  279 

tbe  Huron  told  Myrtle  this  evening,  that  he  had  sent  four  strong 
men  with  Henrich,  who  were  to  accompany  hira  as  far  as  the  Hori- 
con  lake  ;  they  started  an  hour  before  sun-down,  and  are  now,  of 
course,  far  on  their  way." 

"  If  you  should  ever  see  him  again,  Emily,"  she  said  solemnly, 
fixing  her  lustreless  eyes  upon  Miss  Roselle — "  if  ever — when  I  am 
gone — tell  him — what  I  have  never  told  him — tell  him — for  it  will 
be  no  sin  then — that  my  whole  heart  was  his — that  I  died  thinking 
of  him, — praying  for  him  1" 

"  Blanche,  dear  Blanche,  do  not  talk  thus  I"  exclaimed  Emily ; 
"  you  speak  wildly  :  the  scenes  which  you  have  gone  through  have 
been  too  much  for  you." 

"  You  are  right,  cousin  Emily,"  replied  Miss  Montaigne  ;  "  they 
have  been  too  much  for  me,"  and  she  relapsed  again  into  her  dreamy 
and  silent  state,  from  W'hich  no  efforts  could  rouse  her,  excepting  for 
a  very  moment's  interval. 

This  continued  through  the  whole  of  that  and  the  ensuing  day, 
greatly  to  the  apprehension  of  her  female  friends,  who  vainly  sought 
to  alarm  her  father,  by  representing  her  condition,  and  to  prevail  on 
him  to  desist,  at  least  for  a  time,  from  his  design.  He  would  listen 
to  no  representations  ;  it  was  a  ruse — a  feint ;  he  ^vould  not  again 
be  baffled ;  he  had  her  promise,  from  which  she  did  not  even  ask  to 
be  released.  Besides,  he  said,  delay  would  but  make  matters 
worse,  and  w^hen  once  she  was  married,  all  these  whims  would 
quickly  be  dispelled ;  the  excitement  of  a  wedding  journey  would 
of  itself  work  wonders,  for  they  were  to  set  out  at  once  for  Quebec, 
to  spend  a  few  days  with  the  Marquis  Vaudreuil,  and  if  Blanche 
chose,  they  w^ould  thence  proceed  directly  to  Paris ;  and  Emily  and 
Myrtle  were  informed,  by  way,  perhaps,  of  a  bribe  to  their  acquies- 
cence, that  they  should  both  accompany  the  bridal  party  as  far  as 
the  former  place. 

The  preparations,  indeed,  went  rapidly  forward,  and  when  the 
morning  of  the  second  day  arrived,  there  was  no  longer  a  dissent- 


280  THE     KING      OF     TttE     HURONS* 

ing  voice  to  the  ceremony,  for  Emily  and  Myrtle* had  found  it  useless 
to  remonstrate,  and  Blanche  seemed  more  unconscious  of  what  was 
passing  around  her  than  usual.  The  two  days  which  had  been 
stipulated  for  would  not  expire  until  noon  of  the  day  which  had 
now  set  in,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  marriage  should  take  place 
in  the  evening,  in  the  adjacent  chapel,  which  was  to  be  bnlliantly 
lighted  for  the  purpose,  and  various  preparations  for  celebrating  the 
event,  in  and  about  the  castle,  were  also  in  progress. 

Count  Carlton,  elated  beyond  expression  with  his  prospects,  was 
busily  engaged  in  superintending  a  part  of  the  festive  arrangements, 
and  at  about  mid-day  he  mounted  a  horse  and  rode  forth,  in  search 
of  the  Lynx  and  the  Algonquin,  who  were  expected  respectively  to 
head  processions  of  warriors  of  their  tribes  in  honor  of  the  occasion. 
The  Lynx  was  easily  found,  for  the  principal  village  of  his  people 
was  close  at  hand,  but  Anak's  abode  was  more  distant,  being  situ- 
ated several  miles  southward,  and  thither  with  hght  heart  the  Count 
pursued  his  way.  He  found  the  Algonquin,  like  the  Huron,  acqui- 
escent with  the  Baron's  wishes,  for  although  neither  entered  with 
alacrity  into  the  proposed  arrangements,  they  were  convinced  that 
they  could  do  nothing  further  for  Henrich,  and  were  not  unwilling 
either  to  display  themselves  in  their  gala  dresses,  or  to  participate  in 
the  expected  feastings.  Having  parted  with  the  last  named  Lidian, 
with  a  great  show  of  cordiality,  not  forgetting  to  bestow  a  few 
appeasino-  presents  upon  the  stately  brave,  Carlton  set  out  on  his 
return,  rejoicing  that  his  star  was  at  last  in  the  ascendant  and  that 
the  hour  of  his  triumph  had  arrived. 

Alas  !  how  sad  the  contrast  between  his  bliss  and  the  anguish 
with  which  the  hapless  Henrich  had  gone  forth  on  his  lonely  way  I 
What  a  night  of  wretchedness  was  that,  in  which,  re-traversing  his 
recent  route,  he  glided,  in  his  little  bark,  over  the  now  resisting 
current  of  the  Sorelle,  and  re-entered  the  broad  waters  of  the  Cham- 
plain  !  What  a  weary  day  of  hopeless,  joyless,  leaden-winged  hours 
again  succeeded,  in  which,  with  vain  regret,  his  eyes  measured  the 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS.  281 

still  widening  distance  which  separated  him  from  his  lost  friend,  or 
dwelt  idly  upon  the  far  northern  sky,  which  bent  tranquilly  above 
her  abode. 

At  the  close  of  the  day  succeeding  that  on  which  he  left  Castle 
Montaigne,  he  was  aroused  from  a  reverie  into  which  he  had  fallen 
by  feeling  a  sudden  grasp  upon  his  arm,  and  as  he  looked  up  to 
the  Indian  who  had  thus  familiarly  touched  him,  he  became  con- 
scious that  he  had  already  been  earnestly  addressed  several  times, 
by  name,  and  doubted  not  that  there  was  some  unusual  cause  for 
accosting  him.  His  conjecture  did  not  prove  erroneous  ;  they  had 
been  skirting  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake,  looking  for  a  favorable 
place  to  encamp  for  the  night,  and  had  just  doubled  a  small  cape  or 
promontory,  when  a  sight  had  met  the  eyes  of  the  Indians,  which 
seemed  at  once  to  have  astounded  and  rendered  them  incapable 
of  action.  Well  might  it  do  so,  for  on  the  shore,  scarcely  forty  rods 
distant  from  them,  was  a  regular  military  encampment,  while  a  fleet 
of  batteaux,  about  fifty  in  number,  lay  moored  upon  the  beach. 

Henrich's  canoe  had  been  discovered,  and  a  dozen  men  were 
rushing  towards  it  on  the  shore,  while  others  were  leaping  into  boats 
for  the  purpose  of  pursuit ;  flight  would  have  been  so  utterly  useless 
that  the  Indians  did  not  once  attempt  it,  and  in  another  moment 
Henrich  became  happily  conscious  that  for  him,  at  least,  it  was  not 
desirable,  for  the  force  which  they  had  encountered,  whatever  its 
design  or  destination,  was  evidently  English.  He  instructed  the 
men  to  row  immediately  to  the  shore  in  the  direction  of  the  soldiers 
who  were  approaching,  himself  standing  up,  meanwhile,  in  the  boat, 
and  signifying  to  the  strangers,  by  amicable  signs,  his  design  of 
submission. 

Ha\nng  landed,  he  requested  to  be  taken  to  the  commanding- 
officer,  who,  seated  in  his  tent,  received  him  with  much  apparent 
curiosity  and  interest ;  he  was  a  middle-aged  man,  seemingly  of  a 
quick  mercurial  temperament,  and  giving  evidence  by  his  equipment 
of  no  small  rank.     He  at  once  addressed  Huntington  in  French, 


282  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

demanding  his  name  and  residence,  and  seemed  astonished  when 
the  latter  rephed  poHtely  to  him  in  his  own  language,  giving  the 
desired  information.  There  was  an  air  of  incredulity,  however,  in 
his  manner,  as  he  rejoined : 

"  What  do  you  here,  Mr.  Huntington,  in  this  wilderness,  near  an 
enemy's  border,  and  accompanied  by  hostile  Indians  ?  You  are  not 
their  prisoner ;  they  seem  rather  to  be  your  guard." 

"  They  are  such,"  replied  Henrich,  "  and  I  have  come,  as  you 
perhaps  surmise,  from  the  enemy's  territory ;  under  these  circum- 
stances, I  know  that  you  will  consider  it  your  duty  to  detain  me, 
and  I  therefore  will  not  occupy  your  time  by  explanations  that  I 
have  no  means  of  verifying ;  more  especially  as  my  detention  wnll 
contribute  to  my  security,  and  will  afford  me  the  means  of  safely 
regaining  my  home." 

Major  Bain  smiled  as  he  replied  to  the  young  man,  with  whose 
frank  and  ingenuous  air  he  was  not  a  little  pleased  : 

"  I  shall  at  least  be  compelled  to  detain  your  men,  Mr.  Hunting- 
ton, and  you  could  not  safely  proceed  without  them ;  you  may  also 
consider  yourself  under  arrest,  until  I  have  time  to  make  further 
inquiries  ;  but  you  will  be  compelled  to  retrace  your  steps,  and  per- 
haps to  see,  if  you  should  not  be  disposed  to  participate  in,  some 
miUtary  operations  of  moment." 

"  May  I  inquire,"  asked  Henrich,  with  great  interest,  "  which  way 
your  expedition  points  ?" 

"  We  are  going  where  we  are  very  little  expected,"  replied  the 
officer,  excitedly;  "further  I  would  not  say  at  present,  but  every 
soul  in  the  camp  knows  our  destination,  and  I  shall  endeavor  to 
make  up  by  the  celerity  of  our  movements,  for  the  want  of  their 
secresy — we  go,  in  short,  to  smoke  out  of  his  castle,  a  certain  Robin 
Hood  knight  here  in  the  north,  of  whom  you  must  have  heard, 
whose  insolence,  long  extreme,  has  latterly  grown  insufferable,  and 
has  justified  the  fitting  out  of  an  expedition  against  him,  in  his  own 
retreat." 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  283 

"  Is  it  possible  that  j^ou  mean " 

"  The  Baron  Montaigne !"  replied  the  major,  "  no  one  else ;  the 
governors  of  New  York  and  New  England  have  each  contiibuted  a 
small  force  to  the  enterprise,  and  we  are  altogether  sure  of  our  game. 
I  speak  freely  to  you,  Mr.  Huntington,  because  I  may  perhaps  be 
able  to  offer  you  service  which  you  would  be  glad  to  accept :  one  of 
our  officers  has  been  deserted,  sick,  at  an  Indian  settlement, 
and " 

"  It  is  impossible,"  replied  Huntington,  "  that  I  should  avail  my- 
self of  your  generous  offer  ;  there  are  reasons  which  I  will  give  you 
in  private,  why  I  can  take  no  part  in  your  expedition,  further  than 
to  accompany  it  as  a  spectator." 

Henrich  retired  from  this  interview  with  emotions  the  most  thril- 
ling and  exciting ;  alarm  for  the  safety  of  Blanche  and  his  other 
friends  at  the  castle,  had  been  his  first  generous  feeling,  but  this  had 
been  succeeded  by  dawning  hopes,  the  brilliancy  of  which  he  scarcely 
dared  to  contemplate.  These,  in  their  turn,  gave  way  to  other 
thick-coming  fears  and  fancies ;  the  army  would  arrive  too  late  to 
prevent  the  nuptials  of  the  count ;  the  baron  would  make  a 
triumphant  resistance,  or  a  successful  retreat ;  or  a  capitulation  would 
admit  him  to  retire  with  his  family  to  Quebec,  and  give  up  his  castle 
to  his  invaders. 

Either  of  these  results  was,  in  fact,  more  probable  than  that  any 
favorable  change  would  ensue  to  his  own  fortunes  from  the  events 
in  progress — yet  there  was  pleasure  in  the  thought  that  he  might 
once  more  behold  the  object  of  his  affection,  even  if  it  were  but  to 
speak  a  last  farewell.  His  duty,  at  least,  was  clear ;  he  was  com- 
pelled to  accompany  the  invaders ;  but  his  position  demanded  a  most 
perfect  neutrality  of  conduct ;  neither  by  action  nor  advice  might  he 
assist  his  country's  enemies — nor,  while  so  many  of  his  personal 
fi'iends  w^ere  in  their  midst,  aid  to  discomfit  them.  Whatever,  by 
intercession  or  otherwise,  he  could  effect  for  their  benefit,  if  his 
people  proved  victorious,  that  it  would,  of  course,  be  his  privilege 


284  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

and  delight  to  do,  and  with  such  a  conchision,  he  sought  for  a  while 
to  dismiss  the  agitating  theme  from  his  mind,  and  to  find  that  com- 
posure to  which  he  had  been  so  long  a  stranger. 

He  strolled  about  the  camp  and  found  amusement  in  observing 
the  heterogeneous  materials  of  which  the  little  army  was  composed  ; 
its  numbers  amounted  to  about  five  hundred,  of  whom  full  one  half 
were  Indians  of  various  tribes  in  alliance  with  the  English,  and  the 
remainder  were  regular  troops.  The  expedition  had  been  set  on 
foot  by  Governor  Cornbury,  who,  conscious  of  his  present  inability 
to  make  any  formal  invasion  of  Canada,  had  resolved  at  least  to 
strike  a  blow  upon  one  of  its  strongholds,  and  inflict  signal  vengeance 
for  a  series  of  aggressions  which  had  emanated  from  that  particular 
source.  The  movement  had  long  been  in  contemplation,  and  had 
been  hastened  now  by  the  recent  capture  of  Lieutenant  Seabury, 
and  by  the  governor's  anxiety  to  effect  his  release.  Cornbury,  indeed, 
had  scarcely  indulged  the  hope  of  seizing  Montaig-ne,  whose  vigilance 
was  as  proverbial  as  his  valor — but  he  did  not  doubt  that  he  should 
be  able  to  drive  him  fi-om  his  castle,  and  to  destroy,  not  only  that 
fastness,  but  the  neighboring  Indian  villages. 

The  enterprise  was  not  without  its  peril,  and  there  were  not 
wanting  those  who  predicted  its  failure,  and  asserted  the  utter  insuf- 
ficiency of  the  invading  force  to  accomplish  its  object.  Major  Bain, 
however,  felt  confident  that  a  prompt  movement,  which  would  not 
allow  Montaigne  to  summon  aid  from  Montreal,  or  from  the  more 
distant  Indians,  must  be  as  successful,  as  a  dilatory  one  would  cer- 
tainly be  disastrous,  even  if  made  with  thrice  his  strength.  He  was 
a  brave  man,  and  had  long  fretted  under  the  inaction  of  a  command 
in  Albany,  which  had  afforded  him  no  active  service,  and  he  exulted 
in  his  present  mission,  to  which,  indeed,  his  own  energetic  counsels 
had  not  a  httle  contributed. 

"You  have  a  motley  collection  here,"  said  Huntington,  to  a 
sergeant  off  duty,  who  had  addressed  him  civilly  as  he  passed,  and 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  285 

from  wliom  he  hoped  to  glean  some  farther  information  about  the 
contemplated  attack. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  officer,  "  white,  red,  and  black — it  is  a 
queer-looking  army,  indeed,  but  they  are  all  brave  men,  even  the 
negroes." 

"  You  do  not  mean  that  you  have  any  negro  soldiers,  I  presume  ?" 
enquired  Henrich,  "  they  would  be  rare  allies  indeed." 

"  Xot  exactly  soldiers,"  w^as  the  reply  ;  "  but  Major  Bain  has  a 
couple  of  servants  who  profess  themselves  quite  ready  for  duty,  and 
then  there  is  a  long  droll  fellow,  who  insisted  on  joining  us  at 
Albany — probably  a  runaway  slave  ;  he  makes  great  fun  for  the 
soldiers,  and  is  the  very  pet  of  the  Indians ;  he  is  as  strong,  too, 
they  say,  as  the  giant  Goliath." 

"  Ki !  Massa  Keureek  .^"  exclaimed  a  familiar  voice  at  this  mo- 
ment in  Huntington's  ear,  while  the  rapid  evolutions  of  a  body  turn- 
ing a  somerset  at  his  side,  attracted  his  attention.  "  Oh  jingo  !  if 
dis  don't  beat  all  nater !  Oh  Massa  Hen  reek,  but  dis  is  de  'mark- 
ablest  luck  dat  ebber  was." 

Amazed  at  the  appearance  of  the  seemingly  ubiquitous  African, 
Huntington  for  some  moments  scarcely  found  voice  to  address  him  ; 
but  he  extended  his  hand  at  length,  cordially,  to  the  negro,  smiling 
as  he  spoke. 

"  Remarkable,  indeed,  Harry  !"  he  said ;  "  what  in  the  w^orld  has 
brought  you  here,  and  how  is  it  that  yo.u  did  not  return  to  New 
York,  as  you  intended  ?" 

"  I  wuz  waitin'.  Mass  Henreek,  at  Albany  for  de  opptoonity,  when 
I  hare  of  dis  ere  'spedition — dey  stop  dare — dey  say  dey  come  to 
take  Castle  Mountain  ;  it  frighten  me  berry  much,  kaze  I  t'ought 
of  you  and  Missa  Blanche,  and  Missa  Emily,  and  I  didn't  know  what 
might  happen,  and  I  t'ought  I  better  come  along — I  'clare,  Massa 
Henreek,  I  berry  glad  to  see  you." 

"  And  I  am  very  glad  to  see  yow,  Harry !     This  is  the  second 


286  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

time  we  have  met  most  unexpectedly;  I  hope  we  shall  not  part 
again  until  we  return  together  to  New  York." 

"  E  1  Massa  Henrich,  but  I  tickled  to  hare  you  say  dat :  ony  let 
me  stay  by  you,  and  I  can  do  any  ting — but  tell-a  me,  what  you 
trampoose  about  so  much  alone  for  ?  I  find  you,  afore,  all  alone  in 
de  woods." 

"Then,"  rephed  Huntington,  "I  was  the  victim  of  guile  and 
treachery  :  where  you  found  me,  Carlton  had  deserted  me,  forcing 
me  to  quit  his  boat,  a  crime  which  has  since  been  followed  by  others, 
still  worse ;  you  shall  know  more  of  it,  perhaps,  hereafter." 

Harry  listened  with  marked  attention  to  this  brief  exposition,  but 
made  no  other  reply  than  might  be  contained  in  an  expressive  shake 
of  the  head  and  a  harsh  grating  of  the  teeth. 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS  28'7 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

"  O'er  the  rolling  waves  we  go, 
Where  the  stormy  winds  do  blow, 
To  quell  with  fire  and  sword  the  foe." — Old  Song, 

As  the  evening  advanced,  and  Hen  rich  was  contemplating  retire- 
ment for  the  rest  which  he  so  much  needed,  he  was  surprised  and 
delighted  to  hear  orders  issued  for  re-embarking,  and  on  seeking  for 
the  cause  of  so  unexpected  a  movement,  he  encountered  the  polite 
Major  Bain,  who  was  personally  superintending  the  preparations. 

"  We  travel  by  night,  you  perceive,  Mr.  Hunting-ton,"  he  said ; 
"  om'  camp  was  pitched  at  dawn,  and  you  must  allow  that  our  Indian 
guides  have  selected  an  unequalled  hiding-place  here  for  an  army, 
where  no  intruder  could  discover  us,  without  being  first  seen  by  our 
sentinels." 

"  I  have  neither  seen  nor  heard  of  any  sentinels,"  rephed 
Henrich,  "  and  have  been  wondering  at  your  remissness  in  that 
respect." 

"  They  saw  you^  however,  I  assure  you,  full  half  an  hour  before 
you  so  valorously  invaded  us,"  said  the  major,  smihng  ;  "  there  are 
a  dozen  glowing  eyes  on  each  of  these  hills,  sleepless  as  the  stars, 
and  commanding  every  point  of  the  compass  ;  I  can  well  believe 
that  you  have  not  seen  them,  for  if  they  were  wrapt  in  that  magic 
mantle  which  is  said  to  confer  invisibility,  they  would  not  be  less 
easily  found ;  in  fact,  I  don't  know  exactly  where  they  are  myself ; 
my  friend  Kogegogey  there,  with  the  black  feather,  planted  them, 


288  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURON  S. 

and  will  bring  them  in,  I  presume,  presently  with  some  forest 
signal." 

Major  Bain  offered  Huntington  a  seat  in  his  own  boat,  and  every- 
thing being  in  readiness,  the  fleet  started  at  about  eight  o'clock,  and 
pursued  their  way  with  great  rapidity.  The  ardor  of  the  command- 
ing officer  would  scarcely  permit  him  to  confine  his  travel  to  the 
night,  which,  indeed,  in  its  earlier  stages  he  had  not  done ;  but  as 
he  came  farther  north,  his  Indian  counsellors  had  urged  the  point 
as  so  certainly  essential  to  the  project  of  surprising  the  garrison  at 
Montaigne,  that  he  had  yielded  to  their  advice.  Let  but  one  distant 
eye,  they  said,  catch  a  sight  of  the  armament,  and  scores  of  runners, 
fleet  as  the  wind,  would  bear  the  news  to  the  baron  far  in  advance 
of  their  approach. 

If  Henrich  had  exulted  at  the  unexpected  embarkation  of  the 
army,  his  fears  all  returned  when  he  comprehended  the  commander's 
design  ;  for  on  the  ensuing  day  at  noon,  terminated  the  stipulated 
time,  at  the  end  of  which  Blanche  had  promised  to  become  the 
bride  of  Carlton,  and  he  well  knew  that  the  marriage  would  not  be 
deferred  materially  beyond  that  time.  Major  Bain  intended  to  invest 
the  castle  silently  by  night,  and  as  it  was  impossible,  with  any  speed 
which  they  could  command,  to  reach  it  before  the  ensuing  morning, 
it  could  onl}^  be  after  another  day's  delay  and  concealment  that 
they  would  approach  the  walls.  That  day,  alas,  Henrich  had  reason 
to  apprehend,  would  be  fatal  to  all  his  hopes,  and  the  returning  light 
which  had  illumined  his  heart,  again  gave  way  to  the  inroads  of 
despair. 

The  commander  had  resolved,  however,  to  make  his  next  encamp- 
ment as  near  the  castle  as  prudence  would  permit,  in  order  to  learn 
by  espionage  its  situation  and  means  of  defence,  relying  upon  the 
sagacity  of  his  Indian  allies  to  ensure  meanwhile  his  own  conceal- 
ment, and  he  succeeded  greatly  to  his  satisfaction,  in  attaining  and 
entering  the  mouth  of  the  Sorelle,  just  as  the  waning  stars  pro- 
claimed the  approach  of  day.     Two  hours  more  of  darkness  would 


THE      KIN  a      OF      THE      HURONS.  289 

have  enabled  him,  unseen,  to  place  his  forces  at  once  under  the  walls 
of  the  enemy,  but  he  did  not  greatly  regret  the  delay,  as  his  men 
were  jaded  with  toil,  and  required  rest  to  fit  them  for  service. 

As  before,  a  favoring  locality  was  found,  for  a  secret  camp,  in  a 
very  dense  part  of  the  forest,  about  eight  miles  south  of  the  castle, 
and  here  every  precaution  was  taken  to  avoid  discovery,  sentinels 
being  posted  in  hiding-places  on  every  side,  so  that  any  wanderer 
who  should  be  unfortunate  enough  to  stray  near  the  foe,  would  be 
tenfold  more  likely  to  be  caught  and  conveyed  into  then-  midst  than 
to  escape  and  carry  the  tidings. 

For  several  hours  Major  Bain  was  content  to  keep  close  in  his 
spider-like  retreat,  well  satisfied  that  there  seemed  no  prospect  of  his 
being  disturbed,  but  as  the  day  advanced  he  resolved  to  send  forth 
an  emissary  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  castle  to  observe  its  con- 
dition. There  was  no  difficulty  in  finding  a  messenger  for  such  an 
errand  among  the  valorous  and  crafty  savages,  who  delighted  in  any 
achievement  involving  cunning  and  adroitness,  and  the  commis- 
sion fell  upon  a  young  Mohawk  Brave,  who  was  celebrated  for 
sagacity.  Being  allowed  to  select  a  companion  for  his  enterprise, 
his  choice,  to  the  gTeat  chagrin  of  his  brethren,  fell  upon  Harry,  who 
could  see,  he  said,  as  well  as  an  Indian,  and  was  three  times  as 
strong. 

It  was  nearly  noon  when  they  left  the  camp,  and  proceeded  in  a 
canoe  down  the  river  about  four  miles,  where  they  left  their  boat 
concealed,  and  taking  opposite  sides  of  the  stream,  continued  their 
way  on  foot,  carrying  of  course  their  usual  weapons.  They  had  been 
instructed  to  learn  whether  there  were  any  Indian  villages  on  the 
route  to  the  castle,  and  it  was  for  this  purpose  that  they  had  sepa- 
rated, pursuing  thenceforward  independent  courses,  and  expecting 
only  to  re-unite  at  nightfall  at  their  canoe,  after  having  completed 
their  separate  explorations. 

Harry  went  about  a  mile  further  on  his  lonely  way,  and  was  pro- 
ceeding cautiously  through  the  forest,  about  a  dozen  rods   from  the 

13 


290  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

river  side,  when  a  sudden  noise  arrested  his  attention,  and  caused 
him  to  drop,  skulking,  among  the  thick  bushes.  Looking  warily  out 
from  his  covert,  he  saw  a  single  horseman  approaching  at  a  slow 
amble  through  the  woods,  in  the  direction  of  a  beaten  path  which 
led  from  the  interior  diagonally  to  the  river.  The  road,  if  such  it 
could  be  called,  passed  about  twenty  yards  from  the  negro's  place  of 
concealment,  and  Harry,  remaining  silent,  entertained  no  fears  of 
discovery,  more  especially  as  the  equestrian,  so  far  from  seeming  ob- 
servant or  watchful,  had  an  air  of  perfect  ease  and  unconcern.  As 
he  drew  nearer,  the  eyes  of  the  vigilant  African,  which  had  been 
fixed  unwaveringly  upon  him,  dilated  to  a  prodigious  extent,  and  his 
surprise  found  vent  in  the  whispered  words, — 

"  Golly  !  if  it  aint  de  count ! " 

The  count  it  certainly  was,  who,  as  has  been  related,  was  return- 
ing at  this  hour  from  his  interview  with  the  Algonquin  Indian,  and 
was  riding  towards  the  castle,  deeply  wrapt  in  the  contemplation  of 
his  approaching  wedding. 

"  I  aint  afraid  of  him,  any  way,"  said  Harry  ;  "  but  den  he  mustn't 
see  me,  else  he  gib  de  alarm — unless — unless — oh,  jingo ! "  and  the 
negro  clutched  his  large  hands  together,  as  if  unable  to  restrain  a 
wish  that  had  suddenly  formed  in  his  mind. 

"  He  got  pistols,"  continued  the  soliloquist ;  "  but  dat  aint  nottin, 
— nottin  at  all ;  be  quick,  Harry  !  make  up  your  mind  !  "  he  said, 
apostrophizing  himself;  "see,  he  almost  here!  he  put  Massa  Hen- 
reek  ashore,  you  know;  golly, /'^Z  doitf''  and  the  negro  leaped 
hke  some  wild  animal,  headlong  from  his  lair,  and,  at  three  bounds, 
stood  in  front  of  the  count,  with  one  huge  hand  grasping  the  bridle 
of  the  rearing  and  plunging  steed.  The  frightened  rider,  scarce  able 
to  tell  whether  his  assailant  was  man  or  beast,  was  vainly  trying  to 
draw  a  pistol  from  his  belt,  when  the  disengaged  hand  of  Harry  was 
on  his  arm,  and  he  felt  himself  dragged  forcibly  from  his  seat. 

"  Come  a  you  down  off  dere,"  said  the  negro,  "  and  go  along- 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  291 

wiv  me  ;  dere's  a  gerapleman  ober  here  want  to  see  you ; "  and 
Carlton  landed,  shakings  at  Lis  side. 

"  Dis-a-way,  ef  you  please,"  continued  the  negro,  quickly  regaining 
his  gun,  which  he  had  dropped  on  the  ground,  and  starting  at  once 
towards  the  Enghsh  camp  with  his  prisoner,  while  the  freed  horse 
scampered  rapidly  off ;  "  dis  ere  is  de  way — come  along  ! " 

Harry's  motions  had  been  so  rapid  and  impetuous,  that  it  was  not 
until  Carlton  was  whirled  along  in  his  powerful  grasp  that  he  found 
voice  to  speak  ;  and  although  he  now  began  to  pour  forth  a  most 
voluble  tide  of  ejaculations  and  prayers,  they  were  in  a  language  un- 
intelligible to  Harry;  and  if  it  had  been  otherwise,  they  would 
scarcely  have  interrupted  the  flow  of  his  own  congratulatory  soli° 
loquy. 

"  I  got  him — dat  a  fact,"  he  said  ;  and  then,  looking  back  for  an 
instant,  "  I  wish  I  brought  de  horse  along  ;  but  nebber  mind — I  got 
de  count.  What  dat  you  say  ?  more  blue  ?  yhah  !  yhah  !  it  will  be 
more  blue  dan  dis  for  you,  old  boy  ! " 

Carlton  recognised  his  captor,  at  length,  and  his  terror  increased, 
if  possible,  when  he  did  so  ;  for  although  he  had  no  suspicion  of  the 
causes  which  had  led  to  his  misfortune,  he  did  not  doubt  that  his 
dreaded  rival  was  at  hand,  and  that  the  vengeance  which  conscious 
guilt  told  him  was  deserved,  was  destined  now  to  overtake  him. 
The  discovery  made  him  frantic  with  fear ;  and  finding  his  reiterated 
appeals  to  the  negro  unheeded,  he  grew  courageous  enough  to  sud- 
denly draw  a  pistol  with  his  disengaged  hand;  for  Harry,  in  his 
utter  contempt  of  the  httle  weapons,  had  forgotten  to  take  possession 
of  them.  He  observed  the  motion,  however,  in  time  to  strike  down 
the  arm  of  the  prisoner  before  any  harm  was  effected,  and  snatching 
the  pistols,  he  flung  them  with  sudden  wi-ath  over  the  tree-tops. 

"  Gosh,"  he  said,  "  you  grow  'fract'ry,  hay  ?  here,  den,  I'll  show 
you ; "  and  the  negro,  taking  from  his  shoulder  one  of  a  pair  of 
thick  leathern  suspenders,  proceeded  to  bind  the  wrists  of  the  count 
tightly  together ;  after  which,  clutching  him  again  by  the  arm,  he 


292  THE     KIITG     OF     THE     HURONS. 

hurried  along.  A  weary  walk  of  five  miles  was  before  the  pinioned 
man,  for  Harry  did  not  consider  himself  at  hberty  to  take  the  boat 
without  the  Indian's  permission,  and  he  reflected,  moreover,  that  he 
would  be  far  less  liable  to  observation  or  interruption,  in  the  woods, 
than  on  the  river ;  he  was  a  good  pedestrian,  however,  and  compelhng 
his  companion  to  nearly  equal  his  own  prodigious  strides,  the  distance 
was  soon  overcome. 

It  was  with  no  httle  surprise  that  Major  Bain  and  his  fellow  offi- 
cers beheld  the  negro  returning  to  the  camp  with  a  prisoner  of  so 
distinguished  appearance,  and  Henrich's  astonishment  and  exultation 
cannot  easily  be  imagined.  He  had  not  felt  himself  called  upon  to 
interfere  with  the  movements  of  Harry,  who  had  regularly  joined  the 
army  at  Albany,  of  his  own  volition,  after  being  discharged  fi'om 
Huntington's  service,  and  upon  whom,  indeed,  he  had  not  now  the 
right  to  enjoin  neutrality  or  inaction,  if  he  had  desired. 

Carlton's  amazement  at  finding  himself  in  the  camp  of  an  invading 
enemy  was  without  bounds ;  yet  his  alarm  was  rather  diminished 
than  increased,  for  he  was  now  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  not,  as  he  had 
anticipated,  the  victim  of  personal  retribution.  He  at  once  announced 
his  name  and  rank,  and  claimed  the  privilege  of  his  parole,  which 
Major  Bain,  ^vath  a  politeness  that  transcended  his  discretion,  prompt- 
ly accorded.  That  gallant  officer  was  incapable  of  suspecting  a 
depth  of  infamy  in  his  prisoner  which  would  render  his  word  of 
honor  an  insufficient  barrier  to  his  escape,  while,  perhaps,  the  incon- 
venience of  confining  him,  and  the  difficulty  of  flight,  if  attemj^ted, 
contributed  to  a  leniency,  which,  in  the  peculiar  situation  of  the  in- 
vading force,  was  at  least  impolitic. 

Harry,  who  looked  upon  Cai-lton  as  peculiarly  his  prize,  was  by 
no  means  satisfied  with  the  result,  which  he  was  quite  unable  to 
comprehend,  and  he  continued  to  follow  his  released  captive  at  a 
little  distance  about  the  camp,  seldom  removing  his  eyes  from  him, 
and  indulging  not  infrequently  in  his  accustomed  mode  of  thinking 
aloud. 


THE      KING      OF      THE     HURONS.  293 

"  He  look  as  if  he  wiiz  loose,"  lie  said,  peering  curiously  at  the 
arms  and  feet  of  the  Frenchman.  "  Dey  say  he  got  a  parole  on  him 
somewhere,  but  I  can't  see  it — golly,  dey  better  lef  de  'spender  on, 
by  half!" 

When  a  soldier,  with  whom  he  conversed  on  the  subject,  had  in 
some  degree  succeeded  in  explaining  the  nature  of  the  invisible 
fetters  which  were  supposed  to  bind  the  count,  the  African  shook 
his  head  with  marked  significance. 

"  May  be  it  will  hold  him,"  he  said,  angrily  ;  "  but  why  dey  no 
leave  de  'spender  on,  and  put  anudder  on  his  ancles,  and  den  let  him 
go  on  his  parole,  ef  he  want  to  ? — ^Blazes !" 

The  Mohawk  returned  at  dusk,  and  reported  that  he  had  been 
within  pistol  shot  of  Castle  Montaigne,  and  had  lain  concealed  an 
hour  watching  the  movements  of  its  inmates.  There  was  no  ap- 
pearance of  alarm,  he  said,  or  of  any  unusual  vigilance ;  the  principal 
gate  was  open,  and  there  was  much  passing  in  and  out,  especially  of 
the  Hurons,  who  seemed  to  be  dressed  and  painted  for  a  powow ; 
soldiers  were  lounging  idly  around  the  walls,  and  he  had  even  seen 
the  King  of  the  Hurons  talking  with  a  chief  in  the  gateway.  He 
had  discovered  no  Indian  villages  on  the  western  side  of  the  river, 
but  had  judged  there  was  a  Huron  settlement  on  the  eastern  shore, 
and  north  of  the  castle,  having  seen  numbers  of  that  tribe  approach 
and  depart  in  that  direction.  The  castle  walls,  he  said,  w^ere  of  earth 
and  timber,  not  more  than  two  soldiers  high,  and  hinted  that  they 
could  be  scaled  by  half  the  army,  by  a  sort  of  leap-frog  operation, 
over  the  shoulders  of  their  fellow^s,  a  somewhat  novel  mode  of  storm- 
ing a  fortress,  which  Major  Bain  promised  to  take  into  consideration. 
He  manifested  much  satisfaction  at  the  intelhgence  received,  and 
issued  orders  that  everything  should  be  in  readiness  for  departure 
at  the  hour  of  ten. 


294  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURON  S, 


CHAPTER     XXXIV. 


Bellario.— Are  you  not  ill,  my  lord  7 
Philaster— III— no,  Bellario. 
Bellario.— Methinks  your  words 

Fall  not  from  off  your  tongue  so  evenly, 

Nor  is  there  in  your  looks  that  quietness 

That  I  was  wont  to  see." 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher.     Tragedy  of  Philaster. 


The  prolonged  absence  of  the  count  excited  a  surprise  at  tlie 
castle,  which,  as  the  day  began  to  wane,  grew  into  solicitude,  and 
finally  into  serious  anxiety.  Messengers  were  despatched  in  every 
direction  in  search  of  him,  and  the  baron,  pacing  the  court  of  his 
castle  with  a  perturbed  air,  awaited  their  return,  and  instituted 
meanwhile  the  closest  inquiry  of  all  his  adherents  as  to  the  time  and 
place  in  which  the  expected  bridegroom  had  last  been  seen. 

"  He  is  coming,  my  lord,"  said  one,  entering  with  breathless  haste 
while  these  investigations  were  pending;  "he  is  coming  under 
whip  and  spur,  down  the  river  road,  just  this  side  the  woods ;  you 
can  see  him  from  the  west  gate." 

A  crowd  rushed  to  the  gateway,  and  the  baron  beheld  with 
joy,  for  a  moment,  the  distant  spectacle  which  was  pointed  out  to 
him ;  but  as  the  equestrian  drew  near  it  soon  became  evident  that 
it  was  not  the  count.  A  soldier,  one  of  the  searching  party,  had 
found  the  freed  horse  in  the  woods,  and  mounting  him,  had  galloped 
home  to  convey  the  alarming  intelligence.  The  utmost  consternation 
now  prevailed;  another  large  detachment  of  soldiers  and  Indians 


THE      KING     OF     THE      HURONS.  205 

was  sent  out  to  search  for  the  lost  rider,  to  whom  some  casualty  was 
supposed  to  have  happened,  but  one  which  it  was  yet  hoped  might 
not  prove  of  a  serious  character. 

Ignorant  for  a  while  of  the  alarm,  Blanche  had  remained  in  her 
room  in  painful  expectation  of  the  approaching  ceremony,  for  the 
friendly  stupor  which  had  so  long  deadened  her  sensibilities  had 
passed  away,  and  left  her  keenly  ahve  to  all  her  sufterings.  Emily 
brought  to  her  the  first  tidings  of  Carlton's  singular  absence,  exciting 
great  astonishment,  and  a  vague  anticipation  of  relief  which  she  was 
still  unwiUing  to  build  upon  the  hope  of  a  disaster  to  a  fellow  being. 
Not  so,  however,  with  Emily,  who  could  not  conceal  the  compla- 
cency v/ith  which  she  contemplated  the  subject,  and  enumerated 
the  various  fatal  accidents  that  might  have  befallen  the  missing  man. 

"  It  is  very  shocking,  of  course,"  she  said,  "  but  he  has  doubtless 
been  thrown,  and  had  his  neck  dislocated  ;  they  can't  re-set  necks,  I 
beheve,  can  they  ?  Or  else,  perhaps,  some  of  the  Hm'ons  have  way- 
laid him,  and  they  always  make  sure  work  of  what  they  take  in 
hand— it  is  awful,  certamly— but  he's  probably  dead !" 

Myrtle  displayed  much  anxiety,  and  shuddered  at  the  le^dty  of 
Miss  Roselle  ;  a  suspicion  had  taken  possession  of  her  mind,  not  un- 
natural to  one  to  whom  tales  of  murder  and  revenge  were  familiar 
as  household  words.  Who  knew,  she  asked,  that  Mr.  Huntington 
had  really  departed  ?  might  he  not  be  lurking  in  the  wilderness, 
and  might  not  his  hand ? 

"  Mr.  Huntington  is  no  assassin  !  "  answered  Blanche,  indignantly, 
yet  not  unalarmed  at  the  horrid  suspicion ;  "  he  is  incapable  of  such 

an  act." 

"  Nay,  I  said  not  that  he  had  slain  him,"  rephed  the  abashed 
girl ;  "  but  he  may  have  carried  him  off,  or — " 

"  There  is  some  new  commotion  below,"  interrupted  Emily,  looking 
from  the  window  into  the  court  of  the  castle  ;  "  a  crowd  is  entering 
the  gate,  led  by  the  Lynx  ;  see  !  the  baron  advances  to  meet  them, 
and  the  Indian  is  talking  and  gesticulating  with  much  earnestness ; 


296  THE     KING      OF     THE      HUROHS. 

now  he  stoops  and  marks  something  on  the  ground ;  look !  it 
is  the  track  of  a  large  foot ;  now  he  holds  up  some  httle  broken 
sticks,  which  he  has  brought  with  him  ;  what  can  it  mean  ?  Wait, 
while  I  run  and  learn ;  I  will  be  back  in  a  minute." 

Emily  departed ;  and  while  both  Blanche  and  Mptle  were  yet 
trembling  with  the  \aolence  of  their  excitement,  and  watching  the 
movements  below,  she  returned. 

"The  Huron,"  she  said,  quickly,  "has  followed  the  trail  of  the 
horse  in  the  woods  to  a  place  where  the  gi'ound  and  leaves  are  much 
trampled,  and  where  there  are  frequent  marks  of  a  huge  foot,  and 
also  of  the  count's  well  known  steps  ;  the  horse  has  reared,  he  says, 
for  there  are  deep  dents  in  the  soil,  made  by  his  hind  shoes.  Be- 
sides all  this,"  she  said,  breathlessly,  "  the  trail  of  the  men  leads 
southerly  from  that  spot,  and  that  of  the  horse  in  another  direction  ; 
three  experienced  path-findei-s  are  on  the  track,  accompanied  by  a 
hundred  men,  and  further  news  is  expected  every  moment." 

Myrtle  turned  pale  as  she  listened,  and  left  the  room  without  re- 
ply, while  Blanche,  gi-eatly  moved,  continued  to  gaze,  expectantly, 
from  the  window. 

The  Lynx  had  made  his  discoveries  in  the  presence  of  others  who 
had  also  discerned  the  signs  which  he  had  so  plainly  construed ; 
and  as  they  could  not  be  kept  secret,  nor  the  chase  restrained,  he 
had  done  all  that  he  could  to  retard  it,  by  returning  to  the  castle 
with  the  intelligence,  leaving  the  pursuers  to  the  guidance  of  less 
experienced  trail-seekers  than  himself.  For  if  Hariy  Bolt  had  left 
an  engraved  card  on  the  scene  of  his  exploit,  bearing  his  name  in 
full,  it  could  not  more  distinctly  have  revealed  his  presence  to  en- 
lightened eyes,  than  his  footsteps  had  done  to  the  Lynx.  There 
was,  indeed,  no  mistaking  the  sign ;  the  Indian  knew  every  curve 
and  angle  of  the  prodigious  track,  and  the  veiy  number  of  the  hob- 
nails in  either  heel ;  he  had  seen  it  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  on 
the  day  of  his  fii-st  singailar  interview  with  Harry,  and  had  perused 
it  with  unabated  interest  at  every  subsequent  landing-place  on  their 


*JtE    fiiNGi-     OF    Tiifi    iitTRO*rs.  297 

jbint  route.  How  it  came  on  the  shore  of  the  Sorelle,  he  considered 
it  no  part  of  his  province  to  determine ;  but  there  it  was,  as  legible 
as  a  signature  or  a  countenance.  The  negro,  he  supposed,  had  in 
Bome  way  followed  his  master,  and  encountered  him  on  his  return, 
and  they  had  together  planned  and  executed  the  recent  adventure^ 
which  he  considered  a  gallant  and  daring  act,  every  way  justifiable, 
and  he  was  by  no  means  desirous  to  assist  in  defeating  it.  Yet,  if 
he  had  apprehended  for  a  moment  the  true  state  of  affairs,  no  one 
Would  have  been  more  prompt  in  repelhng  the  approaching  invasion 
of  his  country,  at  whatever  sacrifice  of  personal  feehngs. 

The  baron  remained  in  a  state  of  momentarily  increasing  agita^ 
lion,  awaiting  and  receiving  the  successive  tidings  that  reached  him 
fi'om  the  forest ;  but  the  night  began  to  close  in  without  anything 
decisive  being  heard,  and  an  hotir  after  dark  a  few  of  the  pursuing 
party  returned  to  the  castle  with  the  intelligence  that  they  had  fol- 
lowed the  trail  four  miles*  until  the  darkness  prevented  further  search, 
and  that  the  main  body  of  pursuers  had  encamped  in  the  woods, 
ready  to  resume  their  quest  with  the  first  return  of  light. 

The  count,  in  the  meantime,  as  the  hour  for  the  embarkation  of 
the  invaders  arrived,  finding  himself  not  only  unguarded,  but  seem- 
ingly unwatched,  began  to  contemplate  the  project  of  escape.  One 
hour's  warning,  he  knew,  would  enable  the  baron  not  only  to  make 
a  successful  defence  of  his  post,  but  probably  to  utterl}^  discomfit  his 
foes,  while  without  it  everything  would  be  irremediably  lost.  To 
retrieve  his  own  fortunes,  to  avenge  himself  fully  on  Henrich  and 
the  exulting  negro,  and  to  close  the  exciting  drama  of  his  adventures 
by  his  own  final  triumph,  what  was  there  that  he  would  not  do  to 
accomplish  ends  like  these  ?  Should  an  idle  punctifio  restrain  him 
from  reaping  such  a  harvest  of  advantages  ?  He  had  passed  his 
word  of  honor,  indeed ;  but  was  it  not  to  a  treacherous  foe,  who 
were  themselves  advancing  stealthily  upon  their  adversaries,  with 
strategy  and  guile  ?  Had  he  not  himself  been  artfully  and  surrep- 
titiously captured,  and  in  no  fair  and  open  combat?     Such  were 

13* 


2DS  TUB     ttlNG     OF     THE     HtTRONSi 

some  of  the  arguments  with  wbicli  the  count  fortified  his  growing 
resolution  ;  for  when  did  infamy  or  crime  ever  lack  extenuation  in 
the  breast  of  its  perpetrator  ? 

The  danger  attending  the  deed  scarcely  occiil'red  to  his  mind,  for 
although  he  knew  the  penalty  to  which  it  would  technically  render 
him  liable  if  the  English  should  prove  successful,  and  he  should 
again  fall  into  their  hands,  he  did  not  conceive  such  a  result  possible, 
if  the  baron  were  once  fully  apprised  of  his  peril ;  and  he  appre- 
hended, in  no  event,  any  extremity  of  punishment  from  the  urbane 
officer,  who  had  already  shown  so  marked  a  consideration  for  his 
prisoner's  rank  and  title.  The  risk,  indeed,  was  slight  in  comparison 
with  the  vast  benefits  in  prospect,  and  so  busy  was  the  captive  in 
calculating  the  practicability  of  his  scheme,  and  in  overcoming  the 
obstacles  in  its  way,  that  he  scarcely  looked  beyond. 

A  seeming  opportunity  at  length  occurred  in  the  bustle  of  depar- 
ture; the  vigilant  Harry,  his  self-constituted  guide,  had  been  separated 
from  him  in  the  order  of  embarkation,  and  while  the  boats  were  put 
in  readiness,  and  were  receiving  their  respective  occupants,  Carlton 
stepped  backward  a  little  and  obser\ing  that  the  movement  was 
unnoticed,  glided  silently  into  the  deeper  shade  of  the  forest,  and 
then  quickened  his  pace.  In  another  moment  he  was  running — 
plunging  deeper  into  the  sheltering  woods — skulking  through  its 
densest  shades,  and  listening  with  terror  to  the  fancied  sounds  of 
pursuit.  The  escape  was  almost  instantly  discovered,  yet  no  one 
could  tell  the  precise  time  of  the  prisoner's  departure,  or  the  direction 
he  had  taken ;  it  was  at  once  reported  to  the  commanding  officer, 
whose  astonishment  was  unbounded,  and  yet  was  not  greater  than 
his  wrath. 

"  It  is  idle  to  pursue,"  he  said ;  "  we  must  quicken  our  speed  and 
try  to  outstrip  the  scoundrel ;  yet  our  ignorance  of  the  channel  will 
hnpede  us ;  was  ever  such  infamy  heard  of  ?  A  gentleman — a 
count — and  a  commissioned  officer,  forfeiting  his  pledged  honor  ! — 
let  me  but  take  the  lying  knave  once  more,  and  if  he  escape  his 
deserts  again,  mine  shall  be  the  blame !" 


THE      KING     OF     THE      HURONS.  299 


CHAPTER     XXXV. 


"  Ho  !  sound  the  tocsin  from  my  tower— 
And  fire  the  culverin,— 
Bid  each  retainer  arm  with  speed, — 
Call  every  vassal  in.*' 

Albert  G.  Greene. 


It  was  a  little  before  midniglit  that  the  exhausted  count  arrived 
at  the  castle  gate,  and  ere  he  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  admittance 
the  intelligence  of  his  return  had  been  diffused  in  every  direction 
through  the  court,  along  the  walls,  and  in  every  apartment  of  the 
building ;  so  that  by  the  time  he  had  gained  the  principal  hall,  he 
was  surrounded  by  an  eager  throng  of  soldiers,  Indians,  and  domes- 
tics, who  pressed  unreproved  around  him,  to  hear  the  story  of  his 
wonderful  abduction  and  escape.  Into  the  midst  of  this  excited 
crowd  rushed  the  delighted  baron,  just  as  with  faint  and  panting 
voice  Carlton  was  inquiring  for  him,  while  beckoning  with  one  hand 
to  keep  his  motley  retinue  back. 

"  Joy !  joy !  sir  count,  for  your  escape,"  exclaimed  Montaigne  ; 
"  though  fi-om  what  danger  we  do  not  yet  know ;  we  have  had 
great  alarm " 

"  My  lord !  my  lord !"  gasped  the  pallid  count,  "  there  is  an 
Enghsh  army,  six  hundred  strong,  almost  at  your  gates  ;  I  have  been 
their  prisoner  and  am  but  just  escaped  ;  they  advance  by  the  river, 
and  may  be  under  your  walls  in  half  an  hour  !" 

"Let  the  drum  beat  to  arms!"  shouted  Montaigne,  with 
sudden  animation  and  alarm,  "  yet,  no !  Lieutenant  Leighton,  muster 


300  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURON  S. 

the  men  in  perfect  silence ;  see  that  the  guns  are  trebly  manned ; 
place  fifty  musketeers  on  the  western  walls ;  quick,  ho  !  extinguish 
these  lights,  and  let  ever}^  man  to  his  post  in  silence.  You,  Francis 
and  Mallory,  fly  to  the  Lynx  and  warn  him  of  the  danger  ;  let 
another  of  your  men,  lieutenant,  mount  my  best  hoi'se  and  speed  to 
Anak  with  the  news  ;  Windfoot,  you  also  may  go — away  !  away ! 
by  St.  Francis,  but  we  will  give  them  a  reception  they  little  dream 
of — ^but,  hark !  what  noises  are  these  ?" 

"  My  lord,"  said  a  soldier,  rushing  breathlessly  in,  "  the  castle  is 
attacked !  an  enemy  is  scaling  the  walls,  and  forming  in  the  court, 
and  three  of  the  guns  are  already  in  their  possession  ;  Sergeant  Grill 
is  rallying  the  men  and  making  a  stand  in  front  of  the  south  wing, 

but  he  has  only  thirty  men " 

"  Tell  him  to  charge  if  he  has  but  six  !"  shouted  the  baron ; 
"  quick,  form  your  men,  and  follow,  Leighton  ;  I  will  stay  them  till 
you  come !"  and,  springing  through  the  doorway,  in  a  moment  he 
stood  beside  Grill,  in  front  of  the  little  band  who  had  dauntlessly 
opposed  themselves  to  tenfold  their  number.  The  darkness,  how- 
ever, had  favored  the  minority,  Avhose  weakness  was  concealed,  while 
the  loud  prompt  accents  in  which  the  sergeant's  orders  were  issued, 
conveyed  the  idea  that  they  were  directed  to  a  company  of  consider- 
able strength,  and  induced  the  English  commander  to  forbear  an 
attack,  until  more  of  his  own  men  were  assembled. 

"  What  say  you  ?"  cried  the  major,  repeating  a  summons  which 
had  already  been  made  upon  the  sergeant ;  "  will  you  surrender,  and 
save  bloodshed  ?  You  are  quite  in  my  power ;  I  have  five  hundred 
men,  and  I  cannot  answer  for  my  Indian  allies,  if  resistance  is 
made." 

"  On  what  terms  ?"  asked  Montaigne,  anxious  to  gain  time,  yet 
speaking  in  tones  of  defiance  which  behed  his  professed  willingness 
to  negotiate, — "  On  what  terms  do  you  ask  me  to  give  up  this  castle 
of  my  sovereign,  and  who  is  it  that  makes  the  demand  ?" 

"  My  lord  baron,"  rephed  the  Englishman,  "  for  such,  if  I  mistake 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  SOl 

not,  is  tlie  person  I  am  addressing ;  I  am  Major  Bain,  in  the  service 
of  Her  Majesty,  the  Queen,  and  their  Excellencies  the  governors  of 
New  York  and  New  England ;  I  have  travelled  fast  and  far  to  pay- 
yon  a  visit,  and  I  now  demand  an  instant  surrendry  of  your  post, 
without  other  terms  and  conditions  than  those  which  necessarily 
pertain  to  civilized  warfare ;  all  who  are  taken  will  be  regarded  as 
prisoners  of  war,  with  the  exception  of  a  person  styling  himself  Count 
Carlton,  who  to-day  forfeited  his  parole  of  honor  in  my  camp,  and  who, 
if  taken,  will  be  hung :  I  give  you  two  minutes  to  answer  !" 

"  Now  by  all  the  saints,  but  this  is  too  insolent  1"  rephed  Montaigne, 
as  his  lieutenant  silently  ranged  about  eighty  armed  men  beside  his 
little  corps,  yet  scarcely  swelhng  his  force  to  a  hundred  ;  "  know 
then.  Major  Bain,  if  such  you  be,  that  you  are  caught  in  a  trap ;  we 
have  had  ample  notice  of  your  coming,  and  have  intentionally  per- 
mitted you,  unopposed,  to  scale  our  walls;  four  hundred  of  his 
majesty's  troops  stand  this  moment  at  my  side — six  hundred  of  our 
Indian  allies  await  my  call  without  the  gates.  Fool !  did  you  think 
to  surprise  as  old  a  warrior  as  I,  or  to  take  Castle  Montaigne  with 
less  than  a  regiment  ?  I  now  summon  you  to  surrender,  and  give 
you  but  one  minute  to  decide  !     Present  arms  !" 

This  ingenious  falsehood,  and  the  bold  manner  in  which  it  was 
asserted,  struck  alarm  into  the  heart  of  Major  Bain,  for  he  did  not 
know  how  long  Carlton's  return  had  preceded  his  own  arrival,  and 
feared  that  he  had  really  become  the  victim  of  that  individual's 
treachery.  There  was  danger  also  that  a  panic  might  be  created 
among  his  men,  which  would  prove  highly  disastrous,  and  a  moment 
of  most  painful  incertitude  and  indecision  passed,  during  which  he 
hesitated  whether  to  await  an  attack  or  to  commence  one. 

But  the  voice  of  the  undisciplined  Harry  was  at  this  moment  heard, 
as  he  approached  skulkingly  from  the  direction  of  the  French  force, 
where  he  had  been  on  a  sort  of  private  exploring  expedition,  being 
shielded  from  observation  by  the  night-like  hue  with  which  Nature 
had  invested  him. 


§02  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

"  Oh  dat's  a  whopper,  massa  major !"  he  said,  "  I  jis  been  right 
ober  dare  'moiig  'em,  looking  for  de  count ;  dare  aint  niore'n  fifty 
on  'em,  'pon  honor  1" 

"  We  have  certain  inteUigence  of  your  strength,  my  lord,"  now 
retorted  the  Englishman  promptly — "  you  cannot  deceive  us  !  once 
more  I  demand,  will  you  spare  the  lives  of  your  followers,  and  avert 
the  scenes  of  horror  which  must  ensue,  when  once  the  Indians  are 
engaged  ?  My  men  are  impatient  for  the  attack,  nor  shall  I  restrain 
them  another  minute." 

"  Let  the  signal  be  given  for  our  allies  to  advance  through  the 
north  gate !  Fire !"  shouted  Montaigne,  and  almost  in  the  same 
breath,  a  volley  was  given  and  returned,  and  the  coincident  order  to 
charge,  rang  from  the  lips  of  the  opposing  commanders.  For  a  few 
minutes  a  dreadful  encounter  ensued  in  which  the  clashing  of  bayo- 
nets, the  shrieks  of  the  wounded,  the  yells  of  the  Indians,  and  the 
stentorian  voices  of  the  officers,  outsounding  the  combined  clamor, 
rang  with  varied  and  terrific  tones  through  the  air.  Montaigne 
raged  hke  a  Lybian  lion  in  the  front  of  his  little  band,  dealing  death 
on  every  side  with  his  single  arm,  and  driving  back  the  invaders  at 
a  dozen  points,  who,  wherever  his  towering  form  was  seen,  and  his 
hoarse  shouts  were  heard,  quailed  and  wavered  as  if  before  the  onset 
of  some  supernatural  foe.  The  darkness  favored  his  attacks,  and 
added  to  the  mystic  dread  with  which  he  was  regarded  by  men,  to 
whom  his  exploits,  exaggerated  by  fame,  had  long  been  the  themes 
of  famihar  story ;  while  the  Indians  scarcely  ventured  near  enough  to 
his  person,  to  hurl  the  charmed  hatchets  which  had  been  prepared 
by  incantation  to  penetrate  his  supposed  enchanted  armor.  Ilis 
followers,  inspirited  by  his  presence  and  example,  performed  prodigies 
of  valor,  and  were  emulous  to  gain  his  cheers  and  appro\'al,  which 
were  repeatedly  bestowed  even  in  the  heat  of  the  conflict.  Many  of 
the  Iroquois  wariiors  retreated,  and  stood  clustered  behind  the  main 
body  of  the  combatants  awaiting  the  issue,  and  the  moment  when,  if 
successful,  their  own  bloody  work  of  extermination  might  begin ; 


THfi     KING     OF     THE     HURONS.  303 

but  the  English  soldiers  displayed  a  bravery,  which  more  than 
compensated  for  the  defection  of  their  allies.  If  they  faltered,  they 
rallied  ;  if  they  wavered,  it  was  but  to  renew  their  attacks  more 
vigorously  than  before,  under  the  calm  encouraging  orders  of  their 
leader,  who  like  his  competitor  shrank  from  no  danger,  and  although 
severely  wounded,  remained  in  the  midst  of  the  mHee. 

But  the  contest  was  too  unequal  to  be  of  long  duration ;  the 
French  party,  despite  their  valor,  was  rapidly  thinned,  and  was  in 
momentary  danger  of  being  hemmed  in  on  every  side,  when  the 
baron  issued  orders  to  fall  back,  and  a  rapid  retreat  wa^  effected  into 
the  main  hall  of  the  castle,  while  the  shouts  of  the  enemy  rang  long 
and  loud  through  the  air,  waking  the  distant  echoes  in  reply.  They 
promptly  pursued,  but  the  massive  door  which  closed  behind  the 
flying  garrison  withstood  for  a  moment  their  attacks,  and  in  another 
minute  a  dozen  windows  were  bristling  with  the  protruded  guns  of  the 
soldiery  from  within,  and  a  destructive  fire  was  opened  on  the  invad- 
ers, which  caused  them  in  turn  to  retreat,  and  seek  some  safer  mode 
of  attack.  This,  unfortunately  for  the  besieged  party,  was  of  easy 
procurement ;  the  guns  upon  the  walls  were  in  the  undisputed  pos- 
session of  the  invaders,  and  it  only  remained  to  turn  them  upon  the 
castle  with  a  certainty  of  its  speedy  demolition,  unless  by  a  sortie,  or 
by  aid  from  without,  the  weaker  party  might  yet  obtain  relief. 

Incited  to  wrath  by  the  desperate  resistance  which  he  had  met 
from  so  small  a  force.  Major  Bain  was  not  tardy  in  avaihng  himself 
of  the  advantages  which  he  now  possessed ;  the  cannon  were  brought 
to  bear  on  the  doors  and  windows  of  the  main  hall  and  the  south 
wing  of  the  building,  in  which  the  soldiery  were  concentrated,  and, 
before  firing,  the  castle  was  once  more  summoned  to  a  surrender. 
A  voice,  which  was  recognised  as  the  baron's,  demanded  from  an 
open  casement,  on  what  terms  a  capitulation  w^as  asked,  or  would  be 
received,  and  although  the  proposition  betrayed  a  sense  of  his  despe- 
rate condition,  his  words  and  accents  were  still  more  defiant  than 
concihatory. 


304  THE      KING     Oi*     THE     HtJftONS. 

"  On  no  terms,"  replied  Bain,  wrathfully,  "  other  than  those  wticli 
have  been  aheady  named  ;  the  captm-ed  to  be  treated  as  prisoners 
of  war,  but  death  to  Count  Carlton !" 

"  Death  to  Count  Carlton  ! — death  to  Count  Carlton  /"  was  re- 
peated by  a  hundred  hoarse  throats,  in  a  sullen  shout,  which  told 
how  deeply  incensed  were  the  enemy  towards  him,  and  how  much 
of  their  loss  they  imputed  to  his  baseness. 

"  I  will  consult  with  my  officers,"  rephed  Montaigne,  dissembling 
his  rage,  and  hoping  momentarily  for  a  diversion  from  without  by  an 
Indian  force  under  command  of  the  Lynx,  who  could  not  have  failed, 
he  thought,  to  hear  the  tumult  of  the  battle  ;  "  I  will  consult  with 
my  officers,  and  g'ive  you  my  answer  speedily ;  if  you  are  really 
desirous  of  saving  life-- — " 

"  Our  matches  are  lighted,  and  by  all  the  saints  in  your  Popish 
calendar,  I  swear  I  will  not  wait  one  minute  for  an  answer,"  replied 
Bain. 

"  Then  fire  /"  shouted  the  baron,  to  his  men,  a  part  of  whom  had 
been  stationed,  during  the  colloquy,  at  upper  windows,  which  ad- 
mitted of  their  again,  to  some  extent,  commanding  the  enemy's 
position ;  "  Fire^  and  let  the  dogs  feel  your  strength — in  three 
minutes  we  shall  have  relief." 

The  scene  Avhich  ensued  was  terrific  beyond  description.  The 
feeble  volley  of  the  garrison,  which  served  but  to  reveal,  by  its  flash- 
ing light,  the  location  of  the  doors  and  windows,  and  enabled  the 
gunners  to  aim  their  pieces  aright,  was  followed  by  the  roar  of 
artillery,  by  the  crashing  of  pannels  and  casements,  the  jingling  of 
glass,  the  groans  of  the  dying,  and  the  screams  of  the  affrighted  in- 
mates of  every  part  of  the  building,  which  rang  in  prolonged  and 
waihng  accents,  awaking  pity  even  in  the  stern  hearts  which  caused 
their  misery. 

"  There  is  no  harm  done,  my  boys  !"  exclaimed  Montaigne,  spring- 
ing back  to  the  window  from  which  he  had  momentarily  retreated ; 
"  that  noise  will  wake  up  the  Hurons,  and  in  a  few  minutes  we  shall 


THE      KING     OF     THE      HURONS.  305 

have  them  with  us ;  give  them  another  round,  my  bull-dogs  !  and 
be  sure  to  aim  towards  the  guns." 

His  orders  were  obeyed,  and  the  firing  was  again  returned  by  a 
discharge  of  cannon  more  destructive  than  the  former,  accompanied 
by  a  volley  of  small  arms,  from  some  protected  position  on  the  walls ; 
but  scarcely  had  the  roar  of  the  guns  died  away  when  a  messenger 
entered  from  a  lower  room  to  say  that  a  dozen  men  had  been  killed 
by  the  shot,  including  Sergeant  Grill,  and  that  Lieutenant  Leighton 
was  dangerously  wounded. 

"  I  am  sorry  for  it !"  replied  the  baron,  "  but  those  who  remain 
must  fight  the  harder ;  now,  my  boys !"  but  as  he  spoke,  he  stag- 
gered backwards  and  dropped  into  the  arms  of  his  men,  while 
another  peal  of  musketry  rang  from  without. 

"  Lieutenant  Leighton  says  he  has  not  twenty  men  alive  beMw, 
my  lord  !"  said  another  messenger,  entering  hastily.  "  He  is  himself 
dying,  and  he,  therefore,  takes  the  liberty  of  begging  that  you  will 
spare  the  men  and  surrender." 

"  Never !"  gasped  tlie  baron ;  "  never — will  I — surrender  !  There 
will  soon — be  help " 

He  was  borne  to  a  couch  which  stood  in  the  apartment  and 
deposited  upon  it ;  a  surgeon  in  attendance  bent  for  a  few  moments 
above  him,  feehng  meanwhile  of  his  pulse  ;  then  turning  sadly  to  the 
messenger,  he  said,  "Tell  Lieutenant  Leighton  that  he  commands 
this  fortress !"  and  a  gi'oan  of  anguish  burst  from  the  stout  hearts, 
who,  suspending  their  labors,  had  gathered  around  their  fallen  lord. 

The  wounded  lieutenant  received  the  intelligence  with  great  emo- 
tion, and  hastened  to  follow  his  own  convictions  of  duty  by  instantly 
surrendering  the  castle  into  the  hands  of  his  victorious  enemy,  who 
proceeded  to  take  possession  and  receive  the  submission  of  the  sur- 
viving soldiery.  The  destruction  of  life  on  both  sides  had  been 
great,  but  the  loss  of  the  besieged  party  had  been  far  larger  in 
proportion  to  their  number  than  that  of  the  English.  The  Indians, 
as  had  been  anticipated,  were  with  some  difficulty  restrained  from 


306  THE      KING      OF     THE      HURONS. 

falling  upon  the  prisoners,  none  being  more  forward  in  this  fiendish 
desire  than  those  who  had  done  the  least  towards  aehie\'ing  the 
victory. 

Major  Bain  gave  orders  for  the  interment  of  the  dead,  and  the 
care  of  the  wounded,  and  placing  a  strong  guard  on  the  walls  and 
at  the  gates,  directed  his  men  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  a 
march  at  dawn  against  the  neighboring  Huron  settlement.  Count 
Carlton  not  appearing  among  the  prisoners,  he  ordered  a  diligent 
search  to  be  made  for  him  among  the  fallen,  and  in  every  part  of 
the  castle.  He  paid  a  visit  to  the  remains  of  the  baron,  in  which 
solemn  presence  he  encountered  the  half-distracted  Blanche,  and 
Myrtle,  with  Emily  and  the  baroness,  and  several  of  the  priests  and 
domestics,  to  all  of  whom  he  gave  assurances  of  protection,  until 
the  morrow,  and  permission  then  to  depart  to  Montreal,  or  to  such 
other  French  post  as  they  might  choose,  and  to  take  with  them  the 
body  of  the  baron,  or  to  bestow  upon  it,  before  leaving,  such  fitting 
burial  as  the  time  and  place  would  permit. 

"  It  ^Y\\\  be  my  duty,"  he  said,  amidst  the  interrupting  sobs  and 
groans  of  his  auditors,  "  to  destroy  the  castle  before  leaving,  and  I 
shall  be  therefore  under  the  necessity  of  hastening  your  departure." 

"  But  the  severely  wounded  and  dying  ?"  interposed  a  venerable 
priest :  "  they  who  can  neither  accompany  you  as  prisoners,  nor  go 
with  us  ?  Surely  you  will  make  some  provision  for  men  who  require 
both  medical  aid,  and  the  consolations  of  religion." 

"  I  have  not  overlooked  their  necessities,"  rephed  the  major 
humanely ;  "  a  portion  of  the  barracks  will  be  left  standing  for  their 
accommodation,  and  such  of  your  order  who  desire,  can  remain  with 
them ;  doubtless,  also,  some  of  your  Indian  allies  will  come  to  their 
assistance,  after  we  have  departed." 

"  The  chapel,  if  your  honor  pleases,  will  better  accommodate 
them,"  replied  another,  anxious  to  preserve  a  building  hallowed  by 
many  sacred  associations. 

"  The  chapel   will  be  destroyed,"   rephed  Bain,   in  tones   that 


THE     KING      OF     THE      HURON  S.  307 

admitted  of  no  remonstrance, — "  it  is  a  strong  building,  and  might 
itself  be  turned  into  a  fort." 

Blanche  ^Yas  with  difficulty  induced  to  withdraw  from  the  side  of 
her  deceased  parent,  and  to  seek  that  quietude  and  restoration  which 
her  shocked  and  agitated  heart  required.  Her  grief  for  her  father 
was  most  intense,  despite  all  his  harshness  and  severity  towards  her, 
and  was  aggTavated  by  the  thought  that  her  own  conduct,  although 
dictated  by  the  strictest  sense  of  duty,  had  contributed  to  his  fate  by 
engrossing  his  attention,  and  thus  causing  a  remissness  and  relaxa- 
tion of  his  ordinary  vigilance  in  defence  of  his  post. 

Scarcely  had  she  reached  her  own  room,  when  the  astonishing 
mtelligence  was  brought  to  her  that  Mr.  Huntington  was  among  the 
conquering  army,  and  desired  to  be  permitted  to  speak  to  her ;  but 
the  consolation  which  the  knowledge  of  his  presence  would  other- 
wise have  imparted,  was  now  lost  in  the  dreadful  thought  that  he 
had  been  an  actor  in  the  scenes  which  had  resulted  so  tragically  to 
her  nearest  relative ;  nay,  that  perhaps  his  agency  had  chiefly  caused 
the  success  of  the  attack.  Was  it  possible,  she  asked  herself,  that 
he  had  been  capable  of  using  the  knowledge  which  he  had  gained, 
during  his  stay  at  the  castle,  to  aid  in  its  overthrow,  and  in  the 
destruction  and  subjugation  of  her  friends  and  countrymen  ?  True 
he  had  been  greatly  Avi'onged  and  oppressed  by  that  haughty  and 
powerful  man,  who  was  now  turned  to  clay,  harmless  as  its  kindred 
clods,  but  there  was  no  justification  for  revenge,  and  above  all  for  a 
revenge  wdiich  included  the  innocent  with  the  guilty.  The  thought 
that  Henrich  had  been  thus  culpable  was  agonizing  beyond  endur- 
ance, and  a  confirmation  of  her  suspicions  must  not  only  place  a 
barrier  between  them  which  no  time  could  remove,  but  would  crum- 
ble, at  a  blow,  her  bright  ideal  of  human  excellence  and  worth. 

But  Henrich  came,  and  all  these  apprehensions  were  dispelled  ; 
he  hastened,  indeed,  unaccused,  to  disclaim  the  very  acts  of  which 
she  had  so  much  reason  to  suspect  him,  and  to  place  his  conduct  in 
the  kreproachable  light,  which  truth  admitted  and  required.     He 


308  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

had  neither  by  advice  nor  action  contributed  in  the  shghtest  degree 
to  the  surprise  or  capture  of  the  castle  ;  he  had  entered  within  the 
walls  with  that  portion  of  the  enemy  to  whom  the  gates  had  been 
opened  by  the  scaling  party,  and  had  remained  a  passive  spectator 
of  the  scenes  which  ensued.  Unspeakable  was  Miss  Montaigne's 
relief  to  learn  these  gratifying  facts — to  learn  that  it  was  in  reality 
as  a  prisoner  of  the  invading  army,  and  not  as  an  enemy,  or  as  a 
retributor  of  private  wrongs,  that  Henrich  had  returned  ;  and  she 
rejoiced  that  now,  in  the  midst  of  the  horrors  wdiich  surrounded  her, 
she  might  still  look  for  advice,  consolation,  and  support,  to  one  who 
had  so  often  before  shown  his  willingness  and  ability  to  aid  her. 

Yet  she  did  not  forget  amidst  this  returning  calm,  that  her  plighted 
promise  to  wed  the  count  was  still  binding  upon  her,  if  he  yet  hved, 
and  should  claim  its  fulfilment.  The  decease  of  her  father,  so  far 
from  releasing  her  from  the  obhgation,  had  given  to  it  additional 
force.  It  was  a  promise  to  the  dead^  who  could  not  claim  its  per- 
formance, who  could  not  reproach  her  for  dereliction,  and  thus  it 
became  doubly  imperative.  She  shuddered  as  this  dreadful 
remembrance  crossed  her  mind,  but  banished  it  for  a  time,  with  some 
indefinite  hope  of  rehef. 

The  fate  of  Carlton,  meanwhile,  remained  undiscovered.  He  had 
taken  but  httle  part  in  the  engagement,  and  it  was  supposed  that, 
impelled  by  the  consciousness  of  his  peculiar  danger,  he  had  fled  to 
the  forest  before  the  gates  were  fully  in  the  possession  of  the  foe. 
Major  Bain  was  greatly  disappointed  at  not  finding  him  ;  he  did  not 
believe,  however,  that  he  had  escaped,  and  ordered  the  strictest 
vigilance  to  prevent  his  passing  out,  either  in  disguise  or  otherwise,  if 
he  was  yet  within  the  fort. 

In  the  morning  he  carried  out  the  plan  of  action  on  which  he  had 
resolved ;  he  attacked  the  Huron  village  (from  which  the  warriors 
and  other  inhabitants,  warned  of  his  approach,  and  conscious  of  their 
inability  to  withstand  him,  had  fled  with  their  efiects),  and  burned 
it  to  the  ground,  destroying  at  the  same  time,  with  the  cruel  policy 


THE     KING     OF     THE     HURONS.  309 

of  war,  tlie  growing  harvests  around  it.  He  next  fired  the  chapel, 
having  first  permitted  the  weeping  priests  to  remove  what  they 
chose  of  its  sacred  contents,  and  while  its  lurid  flames  were  gilding 
the  heavens,  the  torches  were  preparing  for  the  nobler  pile,  which 
had  so  long  been  the  ornament  and  pride  of  the  now  rapidly 
desolated  district. 

Prompt  and  speedy  movements  were  still  essential  to  his  complete 
success  :  he  had  struck  a  flying  blow,  and  it  was  necessary  to  retire 
before  the  more  inland  regions  could  be  aroused  to  unite  with  the 
forces  of  the  Lynx  and  Anak,  and  dispute  his  egress  from  the  country. 
The  wounded  prisoners  were  removed  to  that  portion  of  the  barracks 
which  it  had  been  determined  to  spare  for  their  benefit,  and  the 
ladies  and  priests  having  been  allowed  to  remove  their  effects,  such 
of  the  residue  of  the  property  as  was  portable,  Avas  speedily  taken 
possession  of  by  the  soldiery,  and  then  the  devom-ing  flame  was 
communicated  at  once  by  a  score  of  willing  hands  to  as  many  different 
parts  of  the  edifice. 

From  a  little  distance,  the  now  re-forming  army  of  invaders 
watched  the  progress  of  the  fire,  while  preparing  to  withdraw  from 
the  scene  of  their  devastations — and  in  another  part  of  the  trampled 
and  blood-stained  court,  near  the  spared  building,  were  assembled 
the  mournful  group  who  had  been  set  at  hberty  by  their  captor,  and 
who,  being  yet  unprepared  to  depart,  remained  unwilling  spectators 
of  the  melancholy  scene.  Henrich  was  with  these,  once  more  at  the 
side  of  Blanche  as  her  friend  and  adviser,  having  obtained  his  full 
liberty  by  the  courtesy  of  the  English  commander ;  yet  he  was  not 
without  apprehension  that  the  withdrawal  of  the  army  would  be  the 
signal  for  the  return  of  his  rival  from  some  lurking-place  in  the 
wilderness.  Such  an  event  might  render  his  own  position  highly 
perilous  in  a  territory  where  the  count's  authority  would  now  perhaps 
be  temporarily  rectgnised,  and  the  more  by  reason  of  his  own  recent 
and  unreversed  sentence  of  banishment,  and  the  suspicions  to  w^hich 


SIO  THE     KING      OF     THE     HURONS. 

he  had  rendered  himself  hable  of  ha\ang  ad\'ised  and  abetted  the 
invaders. 

But  Carlton  was  not  in  the  wilderness.  He  had  heard,  with 
unspeakable  terror,  his  name  excepted  in  the  ofiered  terms  of  quarter 
made  by  the  English  commander ;  he  had  heard  these  terms  repeated 
with  the  same  explicit  and  fearful  reservation  ;  had  listened  to  the 
hoarse  shouts  of  the  soldiery  applauding  his  anticipated  doom,  and 
had  felt,  at  that  moment,  in  his  coward  and  guilty  breast,  more  than 
the  pains  of  death.  For  a  while,  encouraged  by  the  confident 
language  of  Montaigne,  he  had  hoped  for  victory,  and  dreading  the 
baron's  wrath  and  scorn  for  pusillanimity,  had  made  some  feint  of 
aiding  in  the  contest  at  points  where  the  danger  was  least.  As  the 
battle  went  on,  and  its  issue  became  more  certain,  he  had  sought  to 
flee,  but  his  frightened  imagination  had  peopled  the  whole  court  with 
\dgilant  guards  watching  to  intercept  him,  and  he  did  not  dare  to 
venture  forth.  Too  frantic  for  reflection,  he  yet  remembered  a  secret 
room  and  its  ingeniously  contrived  entrance  which  had  once  been 
shown  to  hmi  by  Montaigne,  and  he  hastened  to  make  it  at  least  a 
temporary  refuge. 

In  an  upper  chamber,  a  large  iron  chandelier  was  suspended  from 
a  circular  panneling  in  the  ceihng  ;  seemingly  immovable,  it  could 
yet  be  drawn  down  by  touching  a  spring  at  the  end  of  the  rod  which 
supported  it,  and  with  it  descended  not  only  the  panelhng  to  which 
it  was  attached,  but  an  extending  ladder  of  rope,  forming  an  en- 
trance into  a  room  above,  to  which  there  was  no  other  access.  AVhen 
the  ponderous  chandelier  was  drawn  back  to  its  place,  and  the  fast- 
ening adjusted,  there  was  no  longer  any  trace  of  the  passage,  and 
the  upper  apartment,  which  was  small,  was  also  unexposed  to  obser- 
vation from  without,  being  lighted  and  ventilated  only  by  a  small 
window  in  the  roof. 

To  this  retreat  Carlton,  in  his  terror,  had  fled^o  avoid  the  imme- 
diate danger,  for  he  rightly  conjectm-ed  that  the  fii'st  movement  that 
followed  victory  would  be  a  vigorous  and  diligent  search  for  him. 


THE      KING      OF     THE      HURdNS.  311 

He  had  intended  to  descend  during  the  night,  and  in  disguise  or  other- 
wise, attempt  an  escape  to  the  forest ;  but  this  design  was  defeated 
by  an  unexpected  occurrence.  The  chamber  with  which  his  hiding- 
phice  communicated  was  appropriated,  after  the  engagement,  to  the 
use  of  several  of  the  wounded  Enghsh  soldiers,  a  circumstance  which 
their  voices  and  groans  plainly  proclaimed  to  the  entrapped  count. 
To  discover  himself  to  these,  who  imputed  all  their  injury  to  his  per- 
fidy, would  be  a  betrayal  to  certain  death.  It  was  late  in  the  morn- 
ing when  they  were  removed,  and  then  the  precincts  of  the  castle 
were  swarming  with  the  foreign  soldiery,  and  flight  was  still  impos- 
sible ;  he  remained  half  senseless  in  his  retreat,  hoping  against  hope 
for  the  several  contingencies  which  might  yet  save  him.  The  enemy 
might  be  attacked  and  driven  off  by  the  Indians ;  they  might  not 
destroy  the  castle,  or  they  might  only  set  fire  to  it  and  depart,  with- 
out waiting  to  see  it  consumed,  and  thus  afford  him  an  opportunity 
of  escape. 

These,  with  other  hope-woven  fallacies,  occupied  his  mind  for  a 
while,  and  were  only  dispelled  by  the  smell  of  fire,  by  the  crackling 
sound  of  its  progress,  and  by  the  thin  wreaths  of  smoke  which  began 
to  force  themselves  up  through  the  floor  of  his  apartment.  Ap- 
palled, he  flew  to  the  passage,  and  opening  it,  was  met  by  a  stifling 
current  of  heated  air ;  the  room  was  in  flames ;  he  could  not  de- 
scend but  to  instant  suffocation.  Closing  the  aperture,  he  piled  the 
scant  furniture  of  his  room  together,  and  from  the  summit  of  the 
heap  reached  the  skylight,  and  dashing  it  open  climbed  to  the  roof, 
at  once  discovering  the  assembled  multitude  below,  and  revealing 
himself  to  their  view.  A  shout  fi-om  the  soldiery  announced  his  ap- 
pearance, but  the  spectacle  was  too  awful  for  exultation ;  the  circling 
smoke  was  already  enveloping  his  figure,  as  he  hastily  traversed  the 
summit  of  the  building  and  approached  its  edge,  now  brushing  the 
bhnding  clouds  from  before  him,  and  now  extending  his  arms,  as  if 
imploring  pity  and  aid  from  those  who  had  no  power  to  assist  him. 

Horror  held  motionless  the  beholders  ;  but  Myrtle,  with  a  piercing 


312  THE      KING      OP     THE      HURONS. 

shriek,  darted  from  the  side  of  her  friends,  and  rushing  towards  the 
main  entrance  of  the  castle,  disappeared  within  the  burning  pile. 
The  distracted  baroness  followed  with  faltering  steps,  but  a  score  of 
soldiers,  obeying  not  less  the  impulse  of  their  own  hearts  than  the 
quick  signal  of  the  officer,  sprang  past  her  and  reached  the  doorway, 
though  only  to  battle  for  a  moment  with  the  heated  vapors  that  en- 
countered them,  and  fall  back  proclaiming  the  impossibility  of  res- 
cue. As  they  retreated,  however,  a  young  Mohaw^k  brave  sped  past 
them  at  a  bound,  and  entered  the  hall.  Unbreathing,  to  avoid  the 
stifling  air,  he  groped  for  the  main  stairway,  which  he  rightly  judged 
Myrtle  had  attempted  to  ascend,  and,  mounting  its  hot  steps,  gained 
the  first  landing,  and  saw  the  white  robes  of  the  prostrate  maiden 
before  him.  To  seize  the  light  burden  and  bear  it  back  to  the  outer 
air  was  but  the  work  of  a  second,  and  the  prolonged  shouts  of  the 
spectators  spoke  their  gratification,  and  their  applause  of  the  heroic 
deed. 

Myrtle  was  borne  senseless  into  the  barracks  by  her  anxious 
fi-iends,  and  the  attention  of  the  throng,  momentarily  diverted  by 
this  frightful  episode,  was  again  given  to  the  unhappy  Carlton.  He 
now  stood  at  the  edge  of  the  parapet  which  overlooked  that  part  of 
the  court  where  the  people  were  assembled,  and  seemed  to  contem- 
plate a  leap  from  his  dizzy  height.  Now  he  shouted  for  help — for  a 
ladder — for  a  rope — for  something  to  break  his  fall ;  now  he  ran 
back  and  looked  vainly  into  the  aperture  through  which  he  had 
ascended,  and  anon  he  sought  to  gain  the  less  elevated  roof  of  a 
wing  of  the  building,  but  was  prevented  by  the  flames,  wlfich  had 
already  broken  forth  in  that  direction.  While  he  hoped,  and  hesi- 
tated, and  despaired,  a  thick  column  of  smoke,  spangled  with  spark- 
ling cinders,  rolled  towards  him,  and  enveloping  his  figure  in  its 
murky  pall,  concealed  it  fr'om  the  view  of  the  horrified  spectators. 
A  half-stifled  cry  proceeded  from  the  midst  of  the  whirling  mass, 
w^iich,  growing  blacker  and  blacker  with  continued  accessions,  and 
rising  higher  and  higher  into  the  air,  seemed  like  one  of  the  genii  of 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS.  313 

oriental  fable,  released  from  the  confinement  of  centuries,  and  ex- 
panding its  gigantic  bulk  above  the  diminutive  prison  in  which  it 
had  been  so  long  compressed.  JSTow  reveahng,  through  its  rent 
folds  its  staggering  victim,  and  now  closing  again  around  him,  it 
moved,  with  solemn  gyrations,  slowly  onward,  and  passing,  at  length, 
left  the  unhappy  man  prostrate  in  its  path,  struggling,  but  vainly 
attempting  to  rise. 

An  Indian  chief  who  stood  by  the  side  of  Major  Bain,  whispered 
a  moment  to  the  latter,  who,  unreplying,  turned  away  with  an 
agitated  air,  and  the  savage,  taking  his  silence  for  assent  to  his  really 
humane  proposition,  passed  a  brief  word  of  command  to  a  small 
di^^sion  of  his  men.  A  dozen  rifles  were  raised  simultaneously,  and 
as  their  sharp  report  rang  upon  the  air,  the  body  of  the  count  rolled 
lifeless  down  a  shght  descent  of  the  roof,  to  a  point  where  the  greedy 
flames  were  raging  and  raged  higher  as  they  received  it.  He  had 
passed  from  earth,  and  his  ungathered  ashes  mingled  with  those  of 
his  lofty  faneral  pyre. 

In  another  hour  the  triumphing  army  had  vanished  from  the 
scene  of  their  victory,  and  were  rapidly  pursuing  their  homeward 
route;  they  were  accompanied  by  the  Hberated  Seabury,  who, 
having  been  at  large  on  his  parole,  had  taken  no  part  in  the  combat, 
although  his  soldier  spirit  had  chafed  at  the  intangible  fetters  which 
restrained  him  from  doing  so. 

Myrtle's  injuries  proved  severe,  and  the  intelligence  of  Carlton's 
fate  gave  a  shock  to  her  mind,  which  added  greatly  to  her  sufferings, 
and  increased  the  peril  of  her  situation.  For  several  days  the  fair 
patient  remained  an  inmate  of  an  apartment  in  the  barracks, 
attended  with  kindness  and  solicitude  by  her  friends,  who  waited 
only  her  convalescence  to  quit  for  ever  a  spot  rife  with  the  memory 
of  so  many  tragedies.  Their  anxious  hopes  in  her  behalf  were  not 
disappointed,  and  on  the  third  day  they  were  enabled  to  set  out  in 
boats,  for  Montreal,  accompanied  by  several  of  the  returned  Hurons 
as  guides  and  assistants.     The  baron's  remains,  in  the  intf'rval.  bad 

14 


314  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

been  interred  within  the  undemolished  walls  of  his  ruined  castle, 
Blanche  having  been  prevailed  on  with  difficulty  to  relinquish  the 
idea  of  transporting  the  body  over  their  long  and  difficult  journey. 
The  priests  remained  at  their  post  faithful  to  the  wounded  men  in 
their  charge,  of  whom  several  were  evidently  destined  to  require  the 
last  consolations  of  rehgion  and  the  solemn  rites  of  sepulture  at  their 
hands. 

From  such  a  scene  of  ruin  and  misery  went  Blanche  and  Henrich, 
with  Emily,  Myrtle,  and  the  baroness ;  their  tears  were  many,  and 
their  hearts  were  sad,  some  with  their  own  bitter  grie^  and  some 
with  sympathetic  sorrow. 


THE      KINO      OF      THE      HUR0N8.  315 


CHAPTER     XXXVI. 


She  is  mine  own, 


And  I  as  rich  in  having  such  a  jewel. 

As  twenty  seas,  if  all  their  sands  were  pearl. 

The  water  nectar,  and  the  rocks  pure  gold." — Shakspeare. 

The  Marquis  Vaudreuil  received  early  intelligence  of  the  disas- 
trous blow  which  had  been  inflicted  upon  the  province  of  New 
France,  and  having  heard  that  the  family  of  his  deceased  friend  had 
taken  refuge  at  Montreal,  he  promptly  despatched  a  vessel  to  that 
post,  to  convey  them  to  the  capital,  where  a  fitting  home  was  mean- 
while prepared  for  their  reception.  He  did  not  grieve  deeply  over 
the  loss  of  Carlton,  whose  evil  reputation  had  followed  him  from 
Paris,  and  had  recently  reached  the  ears  of  the  deceived  and  indig- 
nant viceroy,  causing  him  deeply  to  regret  his  agency  in  commend- 
ing his  nephew  to  the  good  will  of  the  baron. 

Months  passed  away,  during  which  Huntington,  who  had  ac- 
companied his  friends  to  Quebec,  continued  a  resident  of  that  city, 
and  an  ever- welcomed  friend  and  visitor  of  Miss  Montaigne.  They 
were  speedily  betrothed,  and  ere  yet  the  autumn  had  fully  passed, 
Henrich,  unwiUing  that  Blanche  should  spend  the  wintry  season  in  a 
clime  so  ungenial,  had  obtained  her  consent  to  an  immediate  union, 
with  a  view  to  a  journey  to  England  and  a  sojourn  until  spring, 
amid  its  milder  airs.  Tf  inducements  were  needed,  none  could  have 
been  presented  to  Blanche's  mind  of  greater  efiicacy ;  already  had 
she  pined,  with  that  love  of  country  which  forms  so  commendable 
a  trait  in  almost  every  heart,  to  tread  again  the  green  soil  and  gaze 
upon  the  bright  landscapes  which  had  been   familiar  to  her  child- 


316  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

hood,  and  which  were  ever  dear  to  memory.  They  were  married 
witlioiit  ostentation,  at  the  mansion  of  the  marquis,  who,  finding  his 
efforts  to  prolong  their  stay  in  Quebec  useless,  desired,  with  charac- 
teristic kindness,  to  give  his  especial  sanction  to  their  union,  and  to 
retain  the  bi-idal  party,  at  least  for  the  first  happy  week,  under  his 
hospitable  roof. 

Emily,  of  course,  was  to  return  with  them,  and  Blanche,  who  had 
acquired  the  most  sisterly  feeling  for  Myrtle,  spared  no  pains  to 
induce  her  also  to  accompany  them,  but  neither  the  baroness  nor 
Vaudreuil  would  consent  to  such  a  deprivation.  The  marquis,  in- 
deed, who  had  consented  to  administer  upon  the  large  estate  of  his 
friend  for  the  benefit  of  the  heirs,  urged  that  her  presence  in  the 
province  might  be  essential  to  his  labors,  and  offered  both  herself  and 
her  mother  a  welcome  home  in  his  own  house.  This  kindness  was 
accepted  for  the  time,  and  the  sisters  parted  with  mutual  tears  and 
regret,  for  although  their  acquaintance  had  been  brief,  the  extraor- 
dinary events  through  which  they  had  passed  had  served  to  rapidly 
develope  their  respective  characters,  and  a  communion  of  suffering 
had  endeared  them  to  each  other. 

Henrich,  Blanche,  and  Emily  sailed  for  Havre,  and  having  reached 
that  port  in  safety,  they  passed  into  the  Netherlands,  and  thence 
crossed  to  England.  In  the  ensuing  summer  they  returned  to  New 
York,  where  they  took  up  their  abode,  greatly  to  the  dehght  of  old 
Jacobus,  who  had  never  ceased  to  reflect  over  his  semi-hourly  pipe, 
upon  his  interview  with  the  baffled  ensign,  and  upon  the  happy 
train  of  smoke-generated  ideas  which  had  resulted  in  the  despatch 
of  Harry  and  Ruppy  to  warn  the  forest  fugitives  of  their  danger. 

Myrtle  continued  to  reside  with  the  marquis,  the  object  of  much 
unheeded  admiration,  and  a  mourner  in  heart,  although  not  in 
apparel,  for  the  unworthy  Carlton.  The  decease  of  her  mother,  three 
years  later,  left  her  still  more  desolate,  and  peace  having  then  been 
established  between  France  and  England,  she  accepted  an  earnest 
invitation  from  Blanche  and  Henrich  to  remove  to  New  York,  and 


THE      KING      OF      THE      HUR0N8.  3lY 

make  their  house  her  future  home.  There  she  became  contented  and 
cheerful :  her  heart  was  gradually  weaned  from  the  memory  of  its 
misapplied  affection,  and  she  became  at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  the 
happy  wife  of  a  young-  English  gentleman,  of  great  worth,  who 
knew  her  whole  history,  and  whose  attachment  for  her  was  un- 
bounded. 

Miss  Roselle  remained  a  welcome  inmate  of  Henrich's  family,  and, 
professedly  from  choice,  a  member  of  the  single  sisterhood ;  having 
rehnquished,  with  her  matrimonial  aspirations,  her  airs  and  affecta- 
tion, it  is  not  improbable  indeed  that  she  may  have  found  admu-ei-s 
among  the  many  \nsiters  of  her  cousins,  but  none,  it  appeared,  who 
possessed  sufficient  attractions  to  tempt  her  from  what  she  called  her 
chosen  path  of  cehbacy. 

The  cessation  of  hostilities  between  the  provinces  enabled  Henrich 
to  visit  Quebec,  and  render  more  fully  available  to  Blanche  and 
Myrtle  their  large  property,  of  which  the  marquis  was  found  to  have 
proved  a  faithful  steward.  There  he  heard  of  the  welfare  of  the 
Lynx  and  Anak,  for  whom,  in  token  of  his  regard,  he  left  highly 
valuable  presents,  of  the  kind  most  Ukely  to  suit  their  tastes: 
including  among  the  gifts  to  the  former,  one  which  he  knew  would 
be  beyond  pnce  in  his  estimation.  This  was  the  enchanted  rifle,  so 
called,  of  which,  in  his  character  as  the  Beaver,  he  had  made  such 
effective  use,  and  which  he  had  now  been  careful  to  bring  with  him 
for  the  benefit  of  his  Indian  friend. 

The  happiness  of  Henrich  and  Blanche  remained  unimpaired  by 
farther  calamities ;  if  much  suffering  had  been  crowded  into  a  short 
period  of  their  lives,  it  was  followed  by  a  long  exemption  from 
trouble.  They  were  not  even  annoyed  by  the  continued  abode,  in 
their  \jcimty,  of  the  evil  man  to  whom  so  much  of  their  misery,  and 
at  the  same  time,  so  large  a  share  of  their  felicity  was  owing,  for  in 
the  very  year  of  their  return  to  New  York,  Lord  Cornbury  was 
removed  from  his  office  by  his  relative,  the  Queen,  for  official  oppres- 


318  THE      KING      OF      THE      HURONS. 

sion  and  malconduct,  and  Grover,  who  was  a  satellite  of  the  profligate 
governor,  returned  with  him  to  England. 

Jacobus  Waldron  hved  to  the  ripe  age  of  ninety,  and  so  happy 
were  his  declining  days  rendered  by  the  assiduous  kindness  of 
"  Hetty's  Hanreek "  as  he  was  wont  to  call  his  grandson,  that  he 
gradually  ceased  looking  for  that  sudden  influx  of  fortune  which  had 
been  all  his  lifetime  on  the  eve  of  overwhelming  him  with  its  golden 
waves.  Nay,  he  began  to  suspect,  ^^-ith  the  wisdom  of  age,  that  he 
had  already  found  more  than  his  anticipated  treasure  in  his  faithful 
and  aftectionate  children,  and  his  changed  hopes,  placed  now  on 
worthier  objects  than  wealth,  were  looking  beyond  those  solemn 
portals  which  Death,  with  no  forbidding  aspect,  stood  ready  to  fling 
open  for  his  exit. 

Harry  Bolt  returned  with  the  army  of  Major  Bain,  which  did  not 
succeed  in  escaping  from  the  French  territory  ^^thout  some  marks  of 
the  vengeance  of  the  Lynx  and  Anak,  who,  rallying  their  scattered 
warriors,  intercepted  the  invaders  on  the  banks  of  the  Sorelle,  and 
caused  them  no  little  damage.  The  chief  triumph  of  the  Indians, 
however,  was  in  efiecting  the  release  of  the  prisonei*s,  about  sixty  in 
number,  of  whom  the  Enghsh  officer  did  not  gTeatly  regret  to  be 
disencumbered. 

Harry  was  discharged  from  the  army  with  great  credit  and  no  small 
bounty,  and  the  story  of  his  exploits  soon  became  public  in  the  city, 
rendering  him  an  object  of  general  interest,  and  affixing  upon  him 
for  life,  the  highly  relished  sobriquet  of  "  Major  Bolt."  Jule,  ever 
gleeful  and  grinning,  became  his  wife,  and  in  a  comfortable  home, 
provided  by  their  grateful  friends,  they  lived  in  much  happiness, 
disturbed  only  on  the  part  of  the  negress,  by  imaginary  calls  at  every 
dawn,  in  the  sharp  voice  of  Mrs.  Sniff,  denouncing  her  as  ^an  idle 
huzzy,  and  bidding  her  rise  and  begin  her  daily  work.  This  wore 
away,  however,  with  the  wearing  years ;  Harry,  who  had  entered 
into  traffic,  in  a  small  way,  soon  drew  around  him  many  friends, 


THE      KING      OF      TilE      H  tJ  R  O  N  g .  319 

gradually  extending  his  business,  and  acquiring  a  competence  wlaicli 
soon  enabled  him  to  boast  that  if  Jule  were  3^et  a  slave,  he  could 
purchase  not  only  her,  but  her  mistress  also,  unless  the  latter  held 
herself  at  a  far  higher  valuation  than  did  either  he  or  Mrs.  Major 
Bolt. 


l-ME    KND. 


155  Broadway,  New- York, 

July.  1849. 


G.  P.  PUTNAM^  S 

NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


€xmi\B,  fhi\[\mtB,  ml  Wmmxm. 


IN     THE     EAST 


Nineveli  and  its  Remains  '^ 

With  an  Account  of  a  Visit  to  the  Chaldaean  Christians  of  Kurdistan,  and 
the  Yezidis,  or  Devil-Worshippers  ;  and  an  Inquiry  into  the  Manrera 
and  Arts  of  the  Ancient  Assyrians. 

BY   AUSTEN    HENRY   LAYARD,   ESQ.,   D.  C.  L. 

With  Introductory  Note  by  Prof.  E.  Robinson,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 
Ciustrated  with  13  Plates  and  Maps,  and  90  Woodcuts.  2  vols.  8vo.  Cloth.  $4  50. 

"We  cannot  doubt  it  will  find  its  way  into  the  hands  of  scholars  and  thinkers  at  once,  and  we 
ihall  be  surprised  if  it  does  not  prove  to  be  one  of  the  most  popular,  as  it  certainly  is  one  of  the 
most  useful  issues  of  the  season." — Evangelist. 

"As  a  record  of  discoveries  it  is  equa;iy  wonderful  and  important;  confirming  in  many  particu- 
lars the  incidental  histories  of  Sacred  Writ,  disentombing  temple-palaces  from  the  sepulclire  of 
ages,  and  recovering  the  metropolis  of  a  wonderful  nationfrom  the  long  night  of  oblivion."— C'o»» 
Advertiser. 

I 


G.    P.    PUTNAJMS    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


€xmtk^  AnktWy  iiiii  SisrnDniBH—SH  t|iB  fust- 

CONTINUED. 

Ntn^jveh  and  its  Jiemains, — Continued. 

"  Taking  this  only  as  a  book  of  travels,  we 
have  read  none  for  a  long  time  more  interesting 
and  instructive." — Quarterly  Review.  , 

"  We  repeat  that  there  has  been  no  such  pic- 
ture in  any  modern  book  of  travels.  Park  is  not 
braver  or  more  adventurous,  Burkhardt  is  not 
more  truthful,  Eothen  not  more  gay  or  pictu- 
resque than  the  hero  of  the  book  before  us." — 
London  Examiner. 

"This  is,  we  think,  THE  MOST  EXTRA- 
ORDINARY  WORK  OF  THE  PRESENT 
AGE,  whether  with  reference  to  the  wonderful 
discoveries  it  describes,  its  remarkable  verifi- 
cation of  our  early  bilbical  history,  or  of  the 
talent,  courage,  and  perseverance  of  its  au- 
thor. •••♦••  -^g    .^^jl]    ojjly    j^dfj      Jjj 

conclusion,  that  in  these  days,  when  the  fulfil- 
ment of  prophecy  is  engaging  so  much  atten- 
tion, we  cannot  but  consider  that  the  work  of 
Mr.  Layard  will  be  found  to  afford  many  ex- 
traordinary proofs  of  biblical  history." — Lon- 
don Times. 

"  Of  the  historical  value  of  his  discoveries,  too 
high  <in  estimate  can  hardly  be  formed." — N. 
Y.  Recorder. 

"It  has  been  truly  said,  that  the  narrative  is  like  a  romance.  In  its  incidents  and  descriptions  it 
does  indeed  remind  one  continually  of  an  Arabian  tale  of  wonders  and  genii."— Z>r.  Robinson  in 
Introductory  Note. 

"  The  work  of  Mr.  Layard  has  two  prominent  and  distinct  characters.  Its  narration  of  wonder- 
ful discoveries  is  of  high  and  absorbing  intere.st ;  but  as  a  book  of  modern  travels,  abounding  in 
living  and  piquant  descriptions  of  the  manners  and  habits  of  a  people  always  regarded  with  intense 
interest,  it  is  second  to  none." — Democratic  Review. 
"The  book  has  a  rare  amount  of  graphic,  vivid,  picturesque  ndirTdXiYe."— Tribune. 
"The  work  of  Layard  is  the  most  prominent  contribution  to  the  study  of  Antiquity,  that  has 
a.ppeared  for  many  years." — Christian  Inquirer. 

"  Not  one  excels  in  interest  the  account  of  Nineveh  and  its  Ruins,  given  by  Mr.  Layard."— 
Washington  Intelligencer. 

"As  we  follow  the  digsers  with  breathless  Interest  in  their  excavations,  end  suddenly  find  our- 
selves before  a  massive  figure  carved  with  minute  accuracy,  now  lifting  its  gigantic  head  from  the 
dust  of  3000  years,  we  are  ready  to  cry  out  with  the  astonished  Arabs, '  Wallah,  it  is  wonderful,  but 
it  is  true !' " — Independent. 


Egypt  and  Its  Monurrielii^i 


As  Illustrative  of  Scripture  History. 
BY  FRANCIS  L.  HAWKS,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  &.C.,  &,c. 

Illustrated  with  Engravings  from  the  Works  of  Champollion,  RosellinI, 
Wilkinson,  and  others,  and  Architectural  Views  of  the  Principal  Tem- 
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This  work  presents  a  comprehensive  and  authentic,  and  at  the  same  time  popular  view  of  all 
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architecture,  and  domestic  life  of  the  ancient  Egyptians— with  reference  to  other  ancient  remain* 
in  the  "Old  and  New  World." 

*.*  The  following  are  some  of  the  architectural  illustrations,  beautifully  executed  m  tint,  by 
Sarony  &  Major  :— 

Sphinx  a7id  Pyramids,  Interior  of  a  Tomb, 

Great  Temple  of  Karnac,  Koom —  Ombos. 

Statues  of  Memnon,  Thebes,  Interior  of  Great  Temple,  Aboo-  Simbel,  ^6, 

2 


p.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


€umlBy  %hnkxm,  anh  BiBrnnrriBS— 3u  tjiB  fust. 

CONTINUED. 

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BY  THE  HON.  ROBERT  CURZON. 

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LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Monastery  of  Meteora, 
Interior  of  Greek  Monastery, 
Koord,  or  Native  of  Koordistan, 
Negress  waiting  to  be  sold, 
Bedouin  Arab, 
Egyptian  in  Nizam  Dress, 
Interior  of  Abyssinian  Library^ 
Mendicant  Derrish, 
Church  of  Holy  Sepulchre, 
Monastery  of  St.  Barlaam, 
Tartar,  or  Govermnent  Messenger, 
Turkish  Common  Soldier, 
Promontory  of  Mount  Athos, 
Greek  Sailor, 
Monastery  of  Simo-Petri, 
Circassian  Lady, 
Turkish  Lady. 

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"  A  very  curious  and  unique  work.  We  recommend  it  to  those  who  are  fond  of  cheerful  inci- 
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"  His  wanderings  in  the  Levant  extend  over  a  period  of  nearly  ten  years,  abounding  in  adven- 
tures, many  of  them  attended  with  extreme  peril,  which  are  told  with  inimitable  naivete  and  skill. 
*  *  *  There  is  an  elegance  and  picturesque  simplicity  in  his  language  equally  rare  and  delight- 
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3 


G.  P.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


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BY  BAYLE  ST.  JOHN. 

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4 


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"Agreeably  designed  and  ably  executed." — Home  Journal. 

"  One  of  the  few  books  from  which  we  can  obtain  any  thing  like  accurate  information  of  the 
character  of  the  country  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Pacific.  As  descriptive  of  a  race  fast 
passing  away,  and  of  the  wild  and  wonderful  country  from  which  they  are  perishin?,  and  ihrou'^h 
which  the  march  of  civilization  is  forcing  its  way,  to  the  dazzling  treasures  of  the  Pacific  borders, 
the  work  is  attractive,  and  is  got  up  in  a  style  and  character  o('  most  of  the  publications  of  Mr. 
Putnam.  The  cuts  are  very  admirable  specimens  of  the  high  perfection  to  which  engraving  oii 
wood  h£is  arrived." — Democratic  Review. 


Astoria  ; 


Or,  Anecdotes  of  an  Enterprise  beyona  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
BY   WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

With  Map.     l2mo.  $1  50. 

"A  beautiful  edition  of  Irving's  highly  graphic  and  stirring  sketch  of  the  eariy  enterprises  of 
John  Jacob  Astor,  which  will  now  be  read  with  even  more  interest  than  when  first  written."— 
Evangelist. 

"  It  is  one  of  those  rare  works  which  belongs,  by  the  value  of  its  subject  and  the  truthfulness  of 
us  details,  to  authentic  history,  and  by  its  vivid  descriptions,  and  exciting  incidents  to  the  more 
varied  province  of  Romance." — Albany  Atlas. 

"  Loses  nothing  of  its  mterest  by  the  late  discoveries,  &c.,  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains."— 
Recorder. 

"  One  of  Irving's  most  valuable  works.  «  «  •  gtin  fresh,  instructive  and  entertaining."— 
Holden's  Magazine. 


A  Tour  on  the  Prairies ; 

With  Abbottsford  and  Newstead  Abbey. 
BY   WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

l2mo.  $1  25. 

"  Its  perusal  leaves  a  positive  sense  of  refreshment,  which  we  should  think  would  make  th 
book  invaluable  to  the  thousands  of  mortals  whose  lives  are  bound  up  with  ledgers  and  cash  bookib' 
Tribune. 

Delightful  reading  for  a  leisure  hour." — Albany  Atlas. 


Iwentwes  of  Capt,  Bonneville,  U.  S.  A., 

In  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Far  West. 
BY   WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

]2mo,  with  a  valuable  Map.     $1  25. 
"Pull  ot  wild  and  exciting  incidents  of  frontier  and  savase  life." —Provide7ice  Journal. 


G.  P.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


TTie  Genius  of  Italy  ; 

Being  Sketches  of  Italian  Life,  Literature,  and  Religion. 
BY    REV.   ROBERT  TURNBULL, 

Author  of  "  The  Genius  of  Scotland.^' 
1  vol.  l2mo,  with  two  engravings.     ^1  25. 

The  edition  with  extra  illustrations,  handsomely  bound,  will  be  ready  m  the  autumn. 

"Mr.  Tunibull  sives  us  the  orange,  groves,  and  the  tbuntains,  and  the  gondolas,  ati^  .he  fresroet 
and  the  ruins,  with  touches  of  personal  adventure,  and  sketches  of  biography,  and  glimpses  of  the 
life,  literature,  and  religion  of  Modern  Italy,  seen  with  the  quick,  comprehensive  glances  of  an 
American  traveller,  impulsive,  inquisitive,  and  enthusiastic.  His  book  is  a  pleasant  record  of  a 
tourist's  impressions,  without  the  infliction  of  tho  tiresome  minutiae  of  his  everyday  experience." 
— Literary  World. 

"  At  a  moment  when  Italy  is  about  to  be  regenerated— when  the  lovi?-slumbering  spirit  of  the 
people  is  about  assuming  its  ancient  vigor,  a  work  of  this  kind  is  desirable.  *  *  *  The  country, 
us  people,  and  prominent  features  are  given  with  much  truth  and  force."— Democratic  Review. 


Views  A-Foot  ; 

Or,  Europe  seen  with  Knapsack  and  Staff. 
BY    BAYARD   TAYLOR. 

New  edition,  with  an  additional  Chapter  of  Practical  Information  for  Pedes- 
trians in  Europe,  and  a  Sketch  of  the  Author  in  Pedestrian  Costume,  from 
a  Drawing  by  T.  Buchanan  Read      12mo.,  cloth,  f  1  25. 

The  same,  fancy  cloth,  gilt  extra,  $1   75. 

•'There  is  a  freshness  and  force  in  the  book  altogether  unusual  in  a  book  of  travels. 
Asa  text-book  for  travellers  the  work  is  essentially  valuable;  it  tells  how  much  can  be  accom- 
plished with  very  limited  means,  when  energy,  curiosity,  and  a  love  of  adventure  are  the  promp- 
ters- sympaihv  in  his  success  likewise,  is  another  source  of  interest  to  the  book.  *  *  *  The 
result  of  all  this  is,  a  wide-spread  popularity  as  a  writer,  a  very  handsomely  printed  book,  with  a 
very  handsome  portrait  of  the  author,  and  we  congratulate  him  upon  the  attainment  ol  this  and 
future  honors." — Union  Magazine. 


The  Spcmim'ds^  and  tlieir  Country. 

BY    RICHARD    FORD. 

l2mo,  green  cloth.     $1  00. 

"The  best  English  book,  beyond  comparison,  that  ever  has  appeared  for  the  illustration,  m. 
merely  of  the  general  topography  and  local  curiosities,  but  of  the  national  character  and  manner* 
of  Spain  "—Quarterly  Review. 

"This  is  a  very  clever  and  amusing  work."— Louisville  Exam. 

"The  style  is  light,  dashing,  and  agreeable."— iST.   Y.  Mirror. 

•,'  Washington  Irving  commends  this  as  the  best  modem  popular  account  of  Spain. 


Scenes  and  Tliouglits  in  Europe. 

BY   AN    AMERICAN. 

(Geo.  H.  Calvert,  Esq.,  Baltimore.)     l2mo.     50  cts. 

•«  This  hook  is  a  delightful  instance  of  the  transforming  and  recreative  power  of  the  mind  v 
every  ih-l  "^  M  touches.     The  most  hackneyed  ground  of  Europe,  per.^ons  and  obiects  that  r. 
been  the  then.c  ;-  the  last  half  dozen  years  of  every  literary  remiitance  Irom  abroad,  appea 
us  clothed  with  new  ciu.rms  and  meanings,  becai;5e  examitied  with  a  finer  penetration  tnan  u 
Bave  been  by  anv  other  English  or  American  traveller."— 7'n6Mne. 

6 


G.    P. 

Tlie  Life  and  Voyages  of  Clwistoplier  Cohmibus, 

To  which  are  added  those  of  his  Companions. 
BY   WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

New  Edition,  Revised   and  Corrected.     Maps,  Plates,  and  copious    Index. 
3  vols.    ]2mo,    green   cloth  unifonn    with    the    new   edition   of  Irving's 
Works,  $4  ;  half  calf,  ,$6  ;  half  morocco,  top  edge  gilt,  $6  75  ;  full  calf, 
gilt,  $7  50.     The  Octavo  Edition,  in  3  vols.,  on  superfine  paper,  uniform 
with    Prescott's   Ferdinand    and    Isabella,    $6 ;    half  calf,    ^8  50 ;    full 
calf,  $10 
"  One  of  the  most  fascinating  and  intensely  interesting  books  in  the  whole  compass  of  English 
Literature.     *     *     '     It  has  all  the  interest  conferred  by  the  truth  of  history,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  varied  excitement  of  a  well  written  romance."— TFes/em  Continejit. 
"  Perhaps  the  most  truly  valuable  of  the  Author's  writings." — Home  Journal. 
"  The  History  of  Columbus  is  admirably  executed  ;  and  though  a  true  and  faithful  history,  it  is 
as  interesting  as  a  high  wrought  romance." 


The  Conquest  of  Florida, 

BY    THEODORE    IRVING. 

Prof,  of  History  and  Belles  Letters  in  the  Free  Academy. 

New   and  Revised  Edition,  Corrected,  with  Notes,   and   Illustrations  from 
various  recent  sources.     l2mo.     In  September. 


The  Monwments  of  Central  and  Western  America; 

With  Comparative  Notices  of  those  in  Egypt,  India,  Assyria,  &c. 
BY  REV.  F.  L.  HAWKS,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

1  vol.  8vo. 

This  work  is  now  in  preparation,  uniform  with  "Nineveh,"  and  the  "Monuments^ of  Egypt." 
:  will  comprise  a  comp    "  "'  '  '  "   '        '    '         •--'•• 

mains  on  the  American 


It  will  comprise  a  comprehensive,  readable,  and  popular  view  of  the  whole  subject  of  Ancient  re- 
n  continent— with  ample  Illustratioi 


Roman  lAherty :  A  History  ; 

With  a  View  of  the  Liberty  of  other  Ancient  Nations. 

BY   SAMUEL   ELLIOT,   ESQ. 

Illustrated  with  twelve   engravings,  executed  at  Rome.     2  vols.,  Bvo,  uniform 
with  Prescott's  Historical  Works. 


History  of  the  Hebreio  Monarchy.^ 

From  the  Administration  of  Samuel  to  the  Babylonish  Captivity. 

BY  FRANCIS  NEWMAN,  D.  D., 

University  of  Oxford. 

8vo,  cloth,  $2  50. 
7 


G.  P.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


CONTINUED  . 

Itah/;  Past  and  Present : 

Or  General  Views  of  its  History,  Religion,  Politics,  Literature  and  Art. 

BY    L.   MARIOTTI, 

Prof,  of  Italian  Literature  in  Lojidon  University. 

2  vols.,  8vo,  cloth,  f  3  50. 


The  Letters  amd  Speeches  of  Oliver  Cromwell^ 

With  Elucidations. 
BY   THOS.   CARLYLE. 

The  Fine  Edition,  in  2  vols..  Octavo,  with  Portrait.     Reduced  to  $2  50. 


Sorrow's  Autohiography, — Life : 

BY    GEORGE    BORROW, 

Author  of  "  The  Gipsies  of  S'pain,"  "  The  Bible  in  Spain,"  Sfc 

To   be   published   simultaneously   by  John    Murray,   London,  and    G.    P. 
Putnam,  New- York.     In  one  volume,  l2mo.     In  December. 
*  *  This  will  be  a  work  of  intense  interest,  including  extraordinary  adventures  in  various  parts 
of  the  world. 


Jo\nstmiJs  Universal  Atlas. 

This  splendid  and  important  work — by  far  the  most  comprehensive,  correct 
and  useful   Atlas  now  extant,  was  published  recently  in  Edmburgh  at  the 
price  of  eight  guineas,  and  the  price  in  this  country  has  been  about  ,$5U. 
G.  P.  Putnam  has  made  arrangements  for  an  edition  for  the  United  States, 
rendered  far  more  valuable  by  the  addition  of  a  COPIOUS  and  USF^FUL 
INDEX  of  about  40,000  names  ;  but  the  maps  being  transferred  in  fac- 
simile  on  stone,  the  American  publisher   is  enabled   to  supply  it  at  the 
low  price   of  ,320 — elegantly  and  substantially  bound  in   half  morocco, 
gilt    edges.     The    maps    are    clearly    and    beautifully   executed,  and    are 
practically   fully  equal  to  the  original    edition.      The   work   contains  41 
large  and  splendid  maps. 
"  Having  examined  many  of  the  Maps  of  the  National  Atlas,  1  have  no  hesitation  in  saying, 
that  they  are  as  accurate  in  their  geographical  details  as  they  are  beautiful  in  their  execution."— 
Sir  David  Brewster. 

"So  far  as  I  have  yet  examined  the  National  Atlas,  it  is,  in  beauty  of  execution  and  accuracy 
of  detail,  unrivalled  in  this,  and,  I  believe,  in  any  other  country." — Prof.  Traill. 

"Those  who  are  not  familiar  with  the  places  referred  to  in  theHistory  of  the  French  Revolution 
will  frequentiv  find  a  reference  to  Maps  of  great  service  ;  and  the  Military  student  of  Napoleon's 
campaigns  in  Germany  and  France  will  see  the  theatre  of  war  admirably  delineated  in  Mj.  John- 
ston's Maps  of  those  countries." — Alison's  History  of  Europe. 

"I  have  devoted  a  considerable  time  to  a  rigorous  examination  of  the  National  Atlas,  just  pub- 
lished, and,  in  impartial  justice,  I  must  admit,  that  in  accuracy  of  construction,  and  elegance  of 
execution,  it  is  superior  to  any  other  with  which  I  am  acquainted." — William  Galbraith,  F.R.S. 
S.A.,  F.R.A.S. 

"These  beautiful,  accurate,  and  admirably  engraved  Maps  and  Illustrations,  are  deserving  3f 
every  praise  and  encouragement." — Edinbin gh  New  Philosophical  Journal. 

"The  National  Atlas  is  truly  a  splendid  publication,  and  fully  deserved  not  only  the  distinctive 
name  it  bears,  but  also  national  patronage."— i-uerarj/  Gazette. 

8 


G.    P.    PUTNA]\l's    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


CONTINUED. 

Mohammed  and  his  Successors. 

BY   WASHINGTON    IRVING. 
12mo.     In  October. 


Oliver  Goldsmith  :  a  Biography. 

BY  WASHINGTON   IRVING. 

12mo.     ^1  25. 
*,*  This  is  a  new  work,  just  completed.    Now  ready. 


George  Washington  :  a  Biography 

BY   WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

With  Illustrations.     In  preparation* 


The  Ancient  Monwrnents  of  the  Mississippi  Valley, 

Comprising  the  Results  of  Extensive  Original  Surveys  and  Explorations. 

BY  E.  G.  SQUIER,  A.  M.,  AND  E.  H.  DAVIS,  M.  D. 

With  numerous  Illustrations.     Royal  4to,  $10. 


Ten  Years  of  American  History  : 

1840-49 — including  a  History  of  the  Mexican  War  and  of  California. 
BY    EMMA    WILLARD. 

With  a  valuable  Map.     l2mo,  f  1. 
9  2 


G.  P.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


Slrrliittrtun, 


_S==r=t:^^.ri;iBi 


Hints  on  Puhlic  Architecture^ 

Prepared,  on  behalf  of  the  Building  Committee  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 
BY    ROBERT    DALE    OWEN. 

In  large   Quarto,  elegantly  printed,  with    113    Illustrations  in  the  best  style 
of  the  Art.     Price  $6. 

"  While  the  Committee  ofTer  the  result  of  these  researches,  not  so 
much  to  the  profession  as  to  the  public,  and  to  public  bodies,  (as 
Vestries,  Building  Committees,  and  the  like,)  charged  with  the 
duties  similar  to  then-  own,  they  indulge  the  hope  that  the  Architect 
also  may  find  subject  for  inquiry  and  material  for  thought.      *     *     * 

"  Money  is  expended  even  lavishly  to  obtain  the  rich,  the  showy, 
the  comnionplace.  But  this  period  of  transition  may  be  shortened. 
The  progress  of  painting  and  sculpture,  which,  in  other  lands,  has 
been  the  slow  growth  of  centuries,  has  been  hastened  in  our  country, 
thanks  to  the  genius  of  a  few  self-taught  men,  beyond  all  former 
precedent.  To  stimulate  genius  in  a  kindred  branch  of  art;  to 
supply  suggestions  which  may  call  off  from  devious  paths,  and 
mdicate  to'the  student  the  true  line  of  progress;  and  thus  to  aid  in 
abridging  that  season  of  experiment  and  of  failure  in  which  the 
glittering  is  preferred  to  the  chaste,  and  the  gaudy  is  mistaken  for 
the  beautiful,  are  objects  of  no  light  importance.  In  such  con- 
siderations may  be  found  the  motive  and  the  purpose  of  the  follow- 
ing pages." — Extract  from  the  Preface. 

"This  work  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  building  committee, 
vestry,  city  corporation,  or  other  similar  body,  having  the  selections 
of  plans  (or  building,  and  of  every  individual  having  in  charge  a 
similar  duty.  It  is  The  only  work  with  which  we  are  acquainted 
especially  prepared  for  their  use.  It  should  find  its  way  to  the 
shelves  of  every  county  library  ;  for  by  reference  to  its  pages,  thou- 
sands of  dollars  may  be  saved  in  the  selection  of  a  proper  style  for 
court-houses,  churches,  and  other  public  edifices. 

"  Nor,  though  not  specially  addressed  to  the  profession,  is  it  of 
less  value  to  the  architect.  "There  is  much  in  this  volume  which 
every  member  of  the  profession  would  do  well  to  study. 

"Of  the  numerous  wood  engravings  which  tbrm  the  chief  illus- 
trations of  this  volume,  we  cannot  speak  too  highly.  Till  we  ex- 
amined them,  we  were  not  aware  to  what  perfection  the  ait  had  been  carried  in  our  country. 
The  effect  of  several  of  these  (e.«pecially  of  the  frontispiece  by  Roberts)  is  equal  to  that  of  the 
best  steel  engravings  ;  and  the  whole  of" the  illustrations  are  exceedingly  creditable  to  American 
art. 

10 


G.    P.    PTJT^A^Vrs    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


3rrjjili-rtiirr. 

CONTINUED. 

'•In  point  of  mechanical  execution  we  have  rarely  seen  its  equal." — N.  Y.  Mirror. 
"  A  very  valuable  book.     *     *     *    In  point  of  typojiraphy  and  embellishment  one  of  the  very 
choicest  volumes  that  ever  issued  from  the  American  Press."— Albion. 

"  Mr  Owen  is  a  clear 

thinker,  and  a   man  of 

great  activity  of   mind, 

and  these  qualities  have 

impressed  themselves  on 

his  work,  which  is  writ 

ten  with  perspicuity  and 

vivacity.   The  principles 

and  sciences  of  architec 

tural  beauty  are  pointed 

out  with  much  beauty  of 

language  and  dexterity  of 

illustration. 
"  We  understand  that 

Mr.  Putnam  has  expend 

ed  on   this   work   many 

hundreds  of  dollars  be 

yond  the  amount  speci 

fied  in  his  contract  with 

the  Smithsonian  Institu 

tion  ;  and  as  the  copyright 

is  his,  we  trust   he  will 

be    amply    remunerated 

for  his  liberality. "--iV.  Y 

Eve.  Post. 

"  The   best   work    on 

Architecture    ever    pub 

lished  in   the  U.    States 

The  illustrations  are  very 

beautiful." — Pennsylva 

nia  btipiirer. 
"  The  book  is  one  wliich 

will  be  read  with  interest 

and     pleasure    even    by 

those  who  have  considered  architecture  as  a  dry  study. 
"The  work  is  exceedingly  interesting,  while  to  public  bodies  it  is  one  of  sreat  value;  and  we 

cannot  say  too  much  in  commendation  of  the  very  superior  style  in  which  the  publisher  has  pro- 
duced it."— iV^.  y.  Com 
Adv. 

"  The  most  compre- 
hensive and  elegantly  il- 
lustrated treatise' on  arch- 
itecture that  has  yet  ap- 
peared m  this  country."-- 
Boston  Transcript. 

"  A  truly  admirable 
work — and  creditable  a- 
like  to  the  institution,  to 
the  editor,  and  to  the 
publish  eT."—Pen7isylva- 
nia  Inquirer. 

"  The  subject  of  which 
it  treats  is  one  of  vast 
importance    to  our  peo- 

f)Ie,  in  its  economical  not 
ess  than  its  ornamental 
relations ;  and  it  is  pre- 
sented here  in  such  a  way 
as  cannot  fail  both  to 
gratify  and  instruct."  .-- 
Philadelphia  N.  Ameri' 
can. 


11 


G.    P.    PUTNAi\rS    NEW    PUBLIC ATIOT^S. 


Xanbsriipt  (Bariiming, 


A  Tt'eatis-e  on  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Landscape 
Gardenivg  and  Rural  Arcliitecture^ 

Adapted  to  North  America.  With  a  view  to  the  Improvement  of  Country 
Residences — comprising  Historical  Notices,  and  General  Principles  of  the 
Art  ;  Directions  for  laying  out  Grounds  and  arranging  Plantations;  the 
Description  and  Cultivation  of  Hardy  Trees  ;  Decorative  Accompaniments 
to  the  House  and  Grounds  ;  the  Formation  of  Pieces  of  Artificial  Water, 
Flower  Gardens,  &c  ;  with  Remarks  on  Rural  Architecture. 

BY    A.   J.    DOWNING. 

Fourth   Edition,  Revised,  Enlarged,  and  Newly   Illustrated.     One  haiidsome 
volume,  8vo.,  cloth,  f$:\  50. 

_^_^^,  ^i^;  ^_  "John  Bull  looks  at  Brother  Jonathan 

-^'5S7-  -?L  :?i\  Sa^  ^  with  a  strange  compound  of  feelings.     He 

^E|^  dislikes  him  as  a  rival ;  he  loves  him,  and 

Vj^^         is  proud  of  him,  as  bein?,  after  all,  of  hia 

.^=-  -sSJTji      own   flesh   and  blood.      BiU  whenever,   in 

^?  science,  art,  or  literature,  Jonath.vn  treads 

^^  rather  sharply  on  the  heels  of  John,  the 

said  John  bellows  out  most  lustily.     Of  all 

^*  the  arts  of  the  universe  which  were  likely 

to  be  the  ground  of  competition  between 

^  proseniior     and     descendant,     I.andscapo 

Gardening  would,  in  this  case,  seem  to  be 

the  last.     And  yet,  our  American  brethren, 

so  far  from  being  behind  us  in  skill,  en- 

thiLsiasm,  or  execution,  seem  to  be  taking 

tlir  Itad  most  decidedly.     *     *     '     There 

IS   now    lying    before   us    a    thick    octavo 

,-_,.^;^,;^,,.,.-,..,  ^.;  -  volume   of  about   500    pages,   entitled    -A 

^^-^-V'^K■:^^*.■'re-^'■•'  Treatise   on  the  Tiieory  and   Practice  of 

r  S--  vii.  -  (,andsca:)e  Gardening,   adapted  to    North 

12 


^Ir 


G.  p.  Putnam's  isew  publications. 


CONTINUED. 

America.'  It  is  by  A.  J.  Downing,  author  of 'Desims  for  Cottage  Residences,  &c.'  •  •  • 
The  volume  itself  is  beautifully  got  up.  It  is  full  of  admirably  executed  illustrations,  represent 
ing  very  numerous  landscape  gardening  and  architecttn-al  effects.  It  has  reached  its  second 
edition  In  1&44,  although  an  expensive  work  ;  a  consummation  which  a  siinilar  treatise,  published 
in  England,  by  an  English  Landscape  Gardener,  could  scarcely  have  hoped  to  reach.  *  *  *  So 
mucirfor  the  "present";  details  will  come  forth  hereafter;  and  then,  most  excellent  John  Bull, 
you  will  see  that  this  is  no  time  to  fold  your  arms,  and  loll  in  your  chair,  as  if  the  race  had  been 
won  and  the  prize  already  yours.  You  have  not  gained  the  victory,  nor  the  prize."— Londnn 
"  Gardener's  Chronicle  "  Edited  by  Prof.  Lindley. 

"  Mr.  Downing  has  here  produced  a  very  delightful  work,  and  has  convinced  us  that  sound 
criticism  and  refined  taste,  in  matters  of  art,  are  not  confined  to  this  side  of  the  Atlantic." — London 
Art  Union  Journal. 

"The  principles  he  lays  down  are  not  only  sound,  but  are  developed  on  a  uniform  system 
which  is  not  paralleled  in  any  English  work. "—Pro/".  Lindley' s  Chronicle,  London. 

"  A  masterly  work."— jLowf/on. 

"There  is  no  work  extant  which  can  be  compared  in  ability  to  Downing's  volume  on  this  sub- 
ject. It  is  not  overlaid  with  elaborate  and  learned  disquisition,  like  the  English  works,  but  is 
truly  practical." — Louisville  Journal. 

"The  standard  work  on  this  subject." — Silliman's  Journal. 


3Jliiitrnlngti. 


DancDs  System  of  Mineralogy. 

A  System  of   Mineralogy — Comprising  the    most    recent   discoveries ;    with 
numerous  wood-cuts  and  four  copper- plates. 

BY    JAMES    D.    DANA, 

Geologist  of  the  U.  <S'.  Exploring  Expedition. 

The    third    Edition    of  this    valuahle    and    important    work,    with    essential 
additions  and  revisions,  bringing  the  subject   down  to  the  present  hour — 
is  now  in  the  Press,  and  will  be  published  shortly.     8vo.,  $3  50. 
"This  work  docs  jreat  honor  lu  America,  and  should  make  us  blusn  for  the  neglect  iii  England 
of  an  imiM.n;mf  and 'interesting  sc\<in<:e."— London  Athc.-imim. 

13 


G.    P.    PUTI^AMS    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


important  Sootanirnl  B?orb. 

The  Genera  of  the  Plants  of  the  United  States. 

Genera  Florae  Boreali- Oriental!  Illustrata :  illustrated  by  Figures  and  Ana- 
lyses from  Nature,  by  Isaac  Sprague.     Superintended,  with  descriptions, 
&c.,  by  Prof  A.  Gray.     Vol.  I,  plates  1—100,  8vo,  cloth,  $6.     Vol.  II, 
plates,  8vo,  cloth,  $6. 
*,*    The  Second  volume  icill  be  ready  in  August. 

"  The  design  of  this  work  is  to  illustrate  the  Botany  of  the  United  States  by  figures,  with  full 
analyses  of  one  or  more  species  of  each  genus,  accompanied  by  descriptive  generic  characters  and 
critical  observations.    The  figures  are  in  all  ca-ses  drawn  directly  from  nature." — Ext.  Preface. 

*,*  This  is  undoubtedly  the  most  important  botanical  work  ever  published  in  the  United  States. 
The  Illustrations  are  executed  in  a  very  superior  style.  G.  P.  Putnam  ia  now  the  sole  publisher 
of  the  work. 


Flora  of  North  America  ; 

Containing  Descriptions  of  all  the  known  Indigenous  and  Naturalized  Plants 
growing  north  of  Mexico  ;  according  to  the  Natural  System.  By  Prof. 
John  Torrey  and  Prof  A.  Gray.     Vol.  I,  8vo,  cloth,  $6. 

The  same,  Part  I  to  VI,  each  $1   50:  Part  VII,  ^1. 

'.*  This  elaborate  and  valuable  work  will  form  three  volumes,  octavo.    The  remainder  will 
be  issued  as  soon  as  practicable. 


Prof.  Grafs  Botanical  Text  Boo\ 

For  Colleges  and  High  Schools.     New  Edition,  with  about  1000  Engravings 
on  Wood.     Large  12mo,  cloth,  %\   75. 


Part    I. — An  Introduction  to  Structural  and  Physiological  Botany. 
Part  II. — The  Principles  of  Systematic  Botany  ;  with  an  Account  of  the  Chief 
Natural  Families  of  the  Vegetable  Kingdoms,  &c    (fee. 

*,*  This  is  by  far  the  most  comprehensive,  clear  and  correct  text-book  on  Botany  now  in  use. 
It  is  introduced  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  and  is  used  in  Harvard  and  many  oilier  American 
Colleges. 

Prof.  Gray's  Manual  of  the  Biriany  of  the  Northern  States.     l2mo.     $2. 

14 


G.    P.    PUTNAjfS    NEW    PUBLICAIIONS. 


B3as[iingtDii  lruing'0  Wmh. 

AUTHOR'S  REVISED  EDITION. 
Elegantly  printed  in  15  vols,  (including  new  works)  and  neatly  bound  in  dark  cloth. 
vol. 

I.  Knickerbocker'' s  Neiv-  York  -        -     1  vol.  $1  25. 
II.   The  Sketch  Book      -        -        -         1  vol.     1  25. 

IV.  (  Columbus  and  His  Companions      3  vols.  4  00. 

YI.  Bracebridge  Hall          -        -  -     1  vol.  1  25. 

YII.   Tales  of  a  Traveller          -        -  1  vol.  1  25. 

VIII.  Astoria,  (pp.  510  with  map)  -  -     1  vol.  1  50. 

IX.   The  Crayon  Miscellany     -        -  1  vol.  1  25. 

X.   Capt.  Bonneville's  Adventures,  map  1  vol.  1  25. 

*XI.   Oliver  Goldsmith,  a  Biography  -     1  vol.  1  25. 

*X1L  Mohammed  and  his  Successors  1  vol. 

*XI1I.    The  Cojiqnest  of  Granada  -  -     1  vol.  1  25. 

*XIV.    The  Alhambra  -         -         -        -  1  vol.  1  25. 

*XY.  [A  new  volume.]   -         -         -  -     1  vol.  1  25. 

•  Those  marked  thus  are  not  yet  ready,  June,  1849. 

*  •  Either  volume,  or  complete  sets  may  also  be  had  substantially  bound  in  half  calf,  75  cts. 
extra  ;  half  morocco  $1  extra  ;  full  calf,  $1  25  extra. 

NOTICES  OF  THE  NEW  EDITION  OF  IRVING. 

"The  tvno<rraphy  of  this  series  is  all  that  could  be  desired.  Nothing  superior  to  it  has  issued 
from  he  Am"erican  press.  Irvine  will  be  amon-  American  classics  what  Goldsmith  is  among 
hoTe  of  the  Fatherland.  His  works  have  not  been  crowded  froni  our  shelves  by  the  hosts  of  new 
claimants  for  public  favor,  who  have  appeared  since  the  Sketch  Book  was  m  every  body's  hands. 
We  1  ave  often  won.Iered  in  common  with  other  readers,  why  there  vvas  no  good  American  edition 
of  his  wrilin-s  •  but  his  place  in  our  literary  affections  remains  as  high  as  ever.  The  desideratum 
of  which  we' speak,  is  n..w  to  be  supplied  by  Mr.  Putnam;  and  we  are  now  to  have  an  elegan 
uniform  edition  of  the  works  of  our  foremost  writer  in  the  belles-lettres  department  of  literatur.;." 
—Boston  Evening  Transcript. 

"The  announcement  that  a  new  edition  of  the  works  of  this  admired  author  was  m  progress, 
h-is  led  .1'  'o  revert  with  pleasure  to  the  delight  we  enjoyeti  in  our  first  acquaintance  with  him 
throu-h  his  charmin-  books.  He  was  the  first  of  American  writers  in  the  depanment  of  elegant 
iterature  who  obtained  a  wide  name  and  fame  in  ihe  ol.l  world.  Great  Britain  France,  Northern 
and  Southern  Europe,  are  alike  familiar  with  his  deli-htlul  and  most  healthful  writings  and 
doubne-^s  his  own  ''ood  standing  abroad  has  done  more  ihan  any  other  single  cause  to  introduce 
the  names  and  works  of  others  of  our  countrymen.  There  is  a  charm  about  his  writings  to  which 
old  ami^youne,  the  educated  and  the  simple,  bear  cheerful  witness.     •     '  Several  new  works 

have  nof  yei 'seen  the  li-ht.  Amon-  these  is  announced  a  Life  of  Mohammed,  and  a  Life  of 
Wa'^hiu'^ion.  As  to  the  latter  subject  for  a  volume,  we  can  only  say,  that  if  another  Life  of  Wash- 
ington needs  be  written-which  we  doubt-we  should  preler,  of  all  men,  to  have  VVashington 
Irvin-  undertake  it.  The  other  promised  biography,  the  Life  of  Mohammed,  is  a  grand  an  unex- 
hau"t"ed,  and  a  most  invitin-  theme.  It  has  never  yet  been  well  treated,  nor  is  it  probable  tha 
ihere  1==  a  man  on  this  Continent  better  qualified  to  treat  it  with  discrimination  and  power,  and 
with  faithfulness  to  the  truth,  than  Washington  Irvine  If  our  country  can  be  covered  with  a 
lar^'e  issue  of  his  writinss,  it  will  make  some  amends  for  the  flood  of  trumpeiy  which  the  Press 
has" poured  over  \t."— Christian  Register. 
"The  most  tasteful  and  elegant  books  which  have  ever  issued  from  the  American  Press,  "-rrt* 

15 


G.  P.  Putnam's  isew  publications. 


1849-50. 

THE  AUTHOR'S  REVISED   EDITION. 

The  Spy  :  A  Tale  of  the  JSFeuPral  Ground. 

New   Edition.      Revised,   &c.,  with  Introduction   and    Notes,   handsomely 
printed,  uniform  with  the  Sketch-Book,  &c.     l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 


The  Pilot :  A  Tale  of  the  Sea. 

I2mo.  ^1  25.     In  September.     To  be  followed  by  other  vols,  at  intervals. 


MR.  COOPER'S   NEW  WORK. 
The  Ways  of  the  Hour. 

12mo,  uniform  with  "  The  Spy."     In  press. 

"  The  public  will  cordially  welcome  a  new  and  complete  edition  of  this  author's  admirable  tales, 
revisedj  corrected,  and  illustrated  with  notes  by  himself.  This  is  No.  1  of  the  new  series,  and  is 
got  up  m  the  style  of  Irving's  works,  which  we  have  over  and  over  again  commended.  As  for  the 
tale  itself,  there  is  no  need  to  speak  of  it.  It  has  a  place  on  every  shelf,  and  at  once  made  the  fame 
of  its  author.  It  is  an  absolute  pleasure  to  the  lover  of  books  to  find  the  ultra-cheap  system  going 
out  of  vogue." — N.  Y.  Albion. 

"  We  are  happy  to  see  Mr.  Putnam  bringing  out  these  American  classics,  the  works  of  Cooper 
and  Irving,  to  refresh  the  present  generation  as  they  amused  the  last.  We  belong,  as  their  two 
fine  authors  do,  to  both,  if  men  of  a  buoyant  temper  and  an  unflagging  spirit  ever  pass  from  one 
generation  to  another.  We  remember,  as  of  yesterday,  with  what  eagerness  we  drank  in  the  tale 
of  '  The  Spy,'  when  it  first  saw  the  light ;  and  how  we  admired  the  genius  of  its  author,  from  the 
beauty  of  its  production.  We  can  enjoy  it  still ;  and  so  will  every  American  who  has  taste  enough 
to  appreciate  an  American  narrative,  told  so  well  by  an  American  wrher."— Washington  Union. 

'' 'The  Spy' is  the  most  truly  national  fiction  ever  produced  in  America.  *  *  *  It  is  esteemed 
abroad  even  more  than  at  home,  for  it  has  been  translated  into  almost  every  European  language, 
and  the  prejudiced  critics  of  the  North  British  Review  have  almost  consented  to  give  it  rank 
with  '  The  Antiquary '  and  '  Old  Mortality.'  "—Richmond  Times. 


Cla/rence  /  or  Twenty  Years  Since. 


The  Author's  Revised  Edition  ;  complete  in  one  vol.     Uniform  with  Irving's 
Works.     In  August. 


Redmood, 

The  Author's  Revised  Edition  ;  complete  in  one  vol.     In  September* 


A  New  England  Tale  ; 

Complete  in  one  vol.     In  October. 
16 


G.  P.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


CONTINUED. 

EXTRAORDINARY   AND   ROMANTIC   ADVENTURES. 

"Kaloolah   will   be    the    book." 

Kaloolah  ;    or^  Jowrneyings  to  the  Djehel  Kwm/ri, 

An  Autobiography  of  Jona.  Romer. 
EDITED   BY   W.  S.  MAYO,  M.  D. 

Illustrations  by  Darley,  beautifully  engraved  and  printed  in  tint,  l2mo,  cloth,  %\  50. 

"  The  most  singular  and  captivating  narrative  since  Robinson  Crusoe."— /Tome  Journal. 

"  '  Kaloolah  will  be  'The  Book.'  If  it  does  not  excite  a  sensation  in  the  reading  public  we  will 
be  perfectly  contented  to  distrust  our  judgment  in  such  matters  in  future." — Merchant's  Journal. 

"  By  far  the  most  attractive  and  entertaining  book  we  have  read  since  the  days  we  were  fasci- 
nated by  the  chef  d'ocuvre  of  Defoe  or  the  graceful  inventions  of  the  Arabian  Nights.  It  is  truly  an 
American  novel— not  v/holly  American  in  scenery,  but  American  in  character  and  American  in 
sentiment  " — U.  S.  Magazine  and  Democratic  Review. 

•'  We  have  never  read  a  work  of  fiction  with  more  interest,  and  we  may  add,  profit— combining, 
as  it  does,  with  the  most  exciting  and  romantic  adventures,  a  great  deal  of  information  of  various 
kinds.  The  heroine,  Kaloolah,  is  about  as  charming  and  delicate  a  specimen  of  feminine  nature, 
as  we  recollect  in  any  work  of  imagination  or  fancy.  We  will  answer  for  it  that  all  readers  will 
be  perfectly  delighted  with  her." — Journal  of  Education. 

"  We  have  met  with  no  modem  work  of  fiction  that  has  so  entranced  us.  The  former  part  of 
Kaloolah  carries  the  reader  captive  by  the  same  irresistible  charm  that  is  found  in  the  paees  of 
Robinson  Crusoe,  than  which  imperishable  work,  however,  it  presents  a  wider  and  more  varied 
field  of  adventure  ;  while  the  latter  part  expands  into  scenes  of  splendor,  magnificence,  and  en- 
chantment, unsurpassed  by  those  of  the  Arabian  Nights'  Entertainment."— Co?n.  Advertiser. 


Letters  from  tlie  AUegliany  Mountains, 

BY    CHARLES    LANMAN, 

Librarian  of  the  War  Department ;  Author  of  "^  Summer  in  the  Wilderness,"  S^c. 

l2nio,  75  cts. 

•  *  These  letters  are  descriptive  of  one  of  the  most  interesting  regions  in  the  old  states  of  the 
Union,  which  has  never  before  been  describeil  by  any  traveller,  and  they  will  be  found  to  contam  a 
great  amount  of  valuable  information,  as  well  as  many  characteristic  anecdotes  and  legends  of 
the  western  parts  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Tennessee. 


The  TurTcislh  Evening  Entertainments  : 

The  Wonders  of  Memorials  and  the  Rarities  of  Anecdotes.     By  Ahmed  Bek 
Hemden,  the  Kiyaya.     Translated  from  the  Turkish. 

BY  JOHN   P.  BROWN,  ESQ., 

Dragoman  of  the  Legation  of  the  United  States,  at  Constantinople. 
l2mo.     In  Septem/)er. 

"It  is  bv  far  the  most  interesting  book  that  has  been  published  at  Con.stantinople  for  a  lone  time. 
•  '  *  the  historical  and  amuMng  interest  of  the  two  hundred  and  seven  cuno.sities,  which  I 
mi'iht  call  anecdotes,  is  so  obvious,"  &,c.— Von  Hammer,  the  celebrated  Orientalist,  to  the 
Translator. 

'  Th^s  book  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  amusing  which  has  appeared."— ./bwr.  Asiatique 

17 


Q.   P. 

Bulwer  and  Forbes  on  the  Water  Treatment. 

Edited,  with  additional  matter,  by  Roland  S.  Houghton,  A.  M.,  M.  D.     One 
volume,  l2mo,  cloth,  75  cts. 

CONTENTS. 
I.  Bulwer's  "Confessions  of  a  Water  Patient."  II.  Dr.  Forbes  on  Hydropathy.  III.  Remarks 
on  Bathing  and  the  Water  Treatment,  by  Erasmus  Wilson,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S,  author  of  '-Wilson's 
Anatomy,"  "  Wilson  on  Healthy  Skin,"  &c.  IV.  Medical  Opinions,  by  Sir  Charles  S-.-udamoic, 
Herbert  Mayo,  Drs.  Cooke,  Freeman,  Heaihcote,  «fec.  V.  Observations  on  Hygiene  and  the  Water 
Treatment,  by  the  Editor. 

The  object  of  this  work  is  to  interest  literary  and  professional  men,  and  all  oilier  persons  of  se- 
dentary habiis  or  pursuits  in  the  subject  of  Hygiene  and  the  Water  Treatment,  lo  attract  their 
attention  to  the  importance  of  acquiring  a  correct  knowledge  of  Health,  with  a  view  lo  the  f  re- 
veniion  and  cure  of  disease  by  Hygienic  management,  aril  to  define  those  leading  general  princi- 
ples which  lie  at  the  basis  of  genuine  Water  Cure. 


Essays  and  Orations. 

Bv  Rev.  George  W.  Bethunf,  D.  D. 
One  volume,  l2mo.     In  Stpt. 

This  volume  will  comprise  all  the  popular  occasional  Orations  and  Discourses  of  the  distin- 
guished author;  and  the  variety  and  importance  of  the  subjects  discussed  are  such  as  to  render  the 
volume  exceedingly  interesting  and  attractive  to  the  general  reader. 


Coleridge! s  Biograpliia  Literaria. 

Biographia  Literaria  ;  or  Biographical  Sketches  of  my  Literary  Life  and  Opi- 
nions. By  Samuel  Taylor  Coleridge.  From  the  2d  London  edition,  pre- 
pared for  publication  by  the  late  H.  N.  Coleridge.     2  vols.  l2mo.     $2. 

"  His  rnind  contains  an  astonishing  map  of  all  sorts  of  knowledge,  while  in  his  power  and  man- 
ner of  putting  it  to  use,  he  displays  more  of  what  we  mean  by  the  term  genius  than  any  mortal  1 
ever  saw,  or  ever  expect  to  .see."— Jb/i/i  Foster. 


A  Lift  for  the  Lazy  ; 

Neatly  printed  in  duodecimo.     75  cts. 

"  They  have  been  at  a  great  feast  of  languages  and  stolen  the  scraps."— /S%aA;speare. 

•  *  This  volume,  printed  in  a  novel  style,  comprises  comprehensive  and  original  materials  for 
"  Table  Talk" — such  as  literary  anecdotes  and  statistics,  origin  of  words,  philological  curiosities, 
quaint  scraps  from  old  authors,  strange  customs,  odd  sayings;  in  short,  as  a  commonplace  book 
of  an  extensive  reader  and  shrewd  observer.,  it  is  a  most  acceptable  "  lift"  for  those  who  are  too 
lazy  or  too  busy  to  read  whole  libraries  for  themselves. 


Tli£  Fountain  of  Living  Waters. 

BY    A    LAYMAN. 

In  a  neat  and  elegant  presentation  volume,  with  a  Vignette,     In  October. 

"  And  the  Spirit  and  the  Bride  say,  Come  ; 
And  let  him  'hat  heareth  say.  Come  : 
And  let  him  that  is  athirst.  Come  ; 
And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  of  the  water  of  life  freely." 

Rev.  22 :  17 

18 


G.    P.    PUTlS^AIVl's    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


The  Illustrated  Knickerhocker  ; 

The  History  of  New-York^ 
From  the  Beginning  of  the  World  to  the  end  of  the  Dutch  Dynasty:  containing, 
among  many  surprising  and  curious  matters,  the  Unutterable  Ponderings 
of  Walter  the  Doubter  ;  the  Disastrous  Projects  of  WiUiam  the  Testy,  and 
the  Chivalric  Achievements  of  Peter  the  Headstrong — the  Three  Dutch 
Governors  of  New- Amsterdam :  Being  the  only  authentic  History  of  tha 
Times   that  ever  hath    been  or    ever  will  be  published. 

BY    DIEDRICH    KNICKERBOCKER. 

Illustrated  with  15  superior  engravings  on  wood,  by  the  most  eminent  artists, 
from  Designs  by  Darley,  viz  : 

Oloffe  Van  Kortland  measuring  the  land  with    Portrait  of  Diedrich  Knickerbocker,  from  am, 

Tenbroeck' s  breeches.  i  original  painting  lately  discovered  by  the 

Vision    of  Oloffe  the  Dreamer,  of  the  future  Expedition  to  Holland. 

city  of  New- Amsterdam.  :  The  Dutch  Exploring  Expedition  cast  away 

The  Peach  War.  at  Hurlgate. 

Portrait  of  Wouter  Van  TwiUer,from  authen-    Dutch  Lover. 

tic  sources.  •        Kidderineisten  in  his  Coffin. 

Gen.  Van  Poffenburg,  practicing  war  on  the    Battle  at  Fort  Christina. 

Sunflowers.  Knickerbocker  raging  at  the  crying  children. 

Knickerbocker  jnaking  his  bote  to  the  public. 

And  a  larger  illustration  on   stone,  from  a  drawing  by  Heath,  of  London  ; 

a  humorous  representation  of  Peter  Stuyvesant's  Anny. 
Elegantly  printed  in  Royal  Octavo.     Price  in  cloth,  ^3  50  ;  extra  dark  cloth, 

gilt  edges,  $4  ;    dark  calf,  antique  style,  ^5  ;    morocco  extra,  ^6.     In 

September. 


The  Illustrated  Sketch-Book. 

The   Sketch-Book. 

BY    WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

Illustrated  with  a  series  of  highly-finished  Engravings  on  Wood,  from  Designs 

by  Darley  and  others,  Engraved  in  the  best  style   by  Childs,  Herrick,  &c. 

One  volume,  square  octavo,   cloth  extra,  ^3  50  ;  cloth  gilt,  ^4  ;  morocco 

extra,  $6. 

"  We  confess  that  we  know  of  none  in  this  country  so  competent  to  the  task  of  illustrating  this 

work  as  the  young  artist  selected  for  the  purpose,  Felix  Darley,  some  of  whose  designs  we  have 

had  the  pleasure  of  seeing.     They  are  full  of  the  quiet,  Crayonish  humor  peculiar  to  the  author, 

and  drawn  with  the  same  elegant  finish  and  freedom  from  blemish  which  distinguish  all  his  works. 

Until  we  saw  these  desisrns  we  were  incredulous  as  to  the  ability  of  any  of  our  native  artiata  to 

properly  illustrate  the  humorous  passages  of  Irving's  writings."— J^^oenm^  Mirror. 


The  Illustrated  Tales  of  a  Traveller, 

Tales   of  a    Traveller. 

BY    WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

Illustrated  with  15  designs  by  Darley,  engraved  on  wood  in  the  first  style  by 
Childs,  Herrick,  Leslie,  Bobbet,  Edtnonds,  &c.     One  volume,  Royal  8vo, 
same  style  and  prices  as  the  Knickerbocker. 
•  It  is  intended  that  the  ensravings  in  this  volume  and  in  the  Knickerbocker  shall  exceed  in 
excellence  any  thing  of  the  kind'yet  produced  in  this  country.     It  will  be  ready  in  October. 

19 


p.  putn-am's  new  publications. 


(Clinia  SllMtrnti^h  aSflnlti 


CONTINUED 


The  Illustrated  Goldsmith, 

Oliver    Goldsmith^   a   Biogr aphy. 
BY   WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

With  about  40  Illustrations  selected  by  the  publisher  from  Forster's  Life  Of 
Goldsmith,  beautifully  engraved  on  wood  by  W.  Roberts.  8vo.  In 
August. 


Fcmiily  Pictures  from  the  Bible, 

EDITED    BY    MRS.    E.   F.    ELLETT. 

Comprising  original  articles  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bethune,  Rev.  H.  Field,   Rev.  Mr. 

Burchard,  and  other  Eminent  Divines. 
Illustrated  vv^ith  designs  by  Darley,  elegantly  printed,  l2mo.     In  Sept. 


Tlie  Illust/ixited  Monuments  of  Egijpt. 

Egypt  and   Its   Monuments. 

As  Illustrative  of  Scripture  History. 

BY   REV.  DR.   HAWKS. 

With  Architectural  and  other  Views  finely  executed  on  stone,  and  numerous 
engravings  on  wood,  from  the  works  of  Rossellini,  ChampoUion,  Wilkin- 
son, &c.    Royal  8vo.     In  September. 


The  Illustrated  Nineveli. 

Layard''s  Nineveh   and  its  Remains. 

With  103  Illustrations  on  wood  and  on  stone.     2  vols,  in  one,  handsomely 
bound  in  half  morocco,  gilt  edges,  $5  ;  calf  extra,  antique  style,  $6. 


Tlw  Illustrated  Italy. 

The   Genius   of  Italy., 

Or  Sketches  of  Italian  Life,  Literature  and  Religion. 

BY    REV.    ROBERT   TURNBULL. 

With  views  of  Milan  Cathedral,  the  Roman  Forum,  Pompeii,  St.  Peters,  and 
the  Lake  of  Como,  beautifully  engraved  on  wood,  elegantly  bound  in 
extra  cloth,  gilt  edges,  $2.     In  September. 

20 


G.  P.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


^m  %MxM  afinuki 


CONTINUED. 

Tlie  Illustrated  Pilgrim! s  Progress. 

New  and  beautiful  edition  of  Pil^im's  Progress,  (in  an  elegant  volume,  uni- 
form with  Tilt's  Illustrated  Milton,  &c.)  To  be  published  simultaneously 
by  David  Bogue,  London,  and  Geo.  P.  Putnam,  New-York,  a  new  and 
beautifully  Illustrated  Edition  of  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress  ;  with  a 
new,  original  Life  of  Bunyan,  written  expressly  for  this  Edition,  by  Rev. 
George  B.  Cheever,  D.  D.  The  whole  containing  from  250  to  300  Illus- 
trations, exquisitely  Engraved  on  Wood,  by  the  best  Engravers  in  London, 
from  Original  Drawings  by  an  Eminent  Artist,  and  Printed  in  the  best 
Style  of  the  Art.     In  one  elegant  volume. 

prospectus. 

In  introducing  to  public  notice  a  new  edition  of  The  Pilgrim's  Progress— the  most  popular  book 
in  the  English  Language— it  is  unnecessary  to  expatiate  on  the  merits  so  imiversally  admiued  aa 
those  of  the 

"  Ingenious  dreamer !  in  whose  well-told  tale 
Sweet  fiction  and  sweet  truth  alike  prevail." 

The  publisher,  therefore,  confines  himself  to  a  simple  enumeration  of  the  mam  features  by  which 
the  present  edition  will  be  distinguished. 

This  distinction  is  threefold  : 

1st.  In  the  Purity  of  the  Text.  It  will  be  printed  from  the  latest  editions  published  in  the 
author's  lifetime,  containing  his  last  revisions  and  alterations.  For  this  purpose  the  extremely 
rare  edition  of  the  first  part,  published  in  1688,  has  been  placed  at  the  publisher's  disposal  by  the 
diligent  researches  of  George  Offor,  Esq.  of  Hackney,  whose  library  contains,  amongst  other  trea- 
sitires,  an  unrivalled  collection  of  early  editions  of  Bunyan.  Most  of  the  ordinary  editions  of  this 
divine  allegory  are  very  erroneous ;  and  printed  as  they  have  been  from  one  another,  without 
reference  to  the  originals,  show  alterations  and  omissions  altogether  at  variance  with  the  Author's 
text.t 

2d.  In  the  absence  of  Notes.  With  very  few  exceptions,  all  the  recent  editions  of  the  Pilgrim 
are  encumbered  with  tedious  doctrinal  notes,  overlaying  the  text,  and  distracting  the  attention  of 
the  reader  from  the  original  narrative.  From  these  this  edition  will  be  altogether  tree.  The  work 
will  be  laid  before  the  "reader  as  Bunyan  left  it;  the  only  variations  will  consist  in  the  correction 
and  verification  of  the  marginal  references,  which,  from  errors  of  the  press,  are  in  the  early 
editions  frequently  inaccurate. 

3d  In  the  Illustrations.  In  the  present  edition  these  are  greatly  more  numerous  and  of  a  higher 
class,  than  have  ever  been  given  with  the  work.  They  will  range  from  Two  Hundred  and  Fifty 
',0  Three  Hundred  in  number,  engraved  by  tbe  Brothers  Dalziel,  from  Drawings  by  William  Har- 
vev,  the  most  graceful  and  imaginative  of  modern  designers,  and  will  consist  of  Head  and  Tail  Pieces, 
Vi't^nettes,  and  Border  Illustrations,  in  all  that  variety  of  pictorial  arrangement  for  which  this  artist 
is  so  celebrated.  A  beautifully  engraved  Portrait  of  the  Author  will  also  be  given  from  the  origi- 
nal drawin"-,  by  R.  White,  preserved  in  the  British  Museum  ;  from  which  was  engraved  the  like- 
aess  attached  to  the  first  edition  of  the  Holy  War  (now  extremely  rare).  This  will  be  engraved  on 
steel,  in  the  line  manner,  by  Mr.  H.  Bourne,  forming  at  once  the  finest  and  most  authentic  Portrait 
of  Bunyan  ever  published. 

The  Work  will  be  printed  in  crown  octavo,  in  the  best  manner,  and  will  be  published  in  Monthly 
Parts,  price  25  cents  each.     Part  I.  will  appear  in  a  few  days. 

Each  Part  will  contain  Forty  pages  of  Letterpress,  and  from  Twenty-five  to  Thirty  Engravings 
on  Wood. 

The  Work  will  be  complete  in  about  Ten,  but  not  exceeding  Twelve,  Parts. 
*  *  A  few  Copies,  printed  on  Lar<je  Paper  (price  2/.  2^.  or  $10),  with  the  finest  impressions  of 
the  Cuts  in  their  best  state.     As  these  will  be  issued  only  in  a  complete  lorm,  persons  desirous  to 
possess  them  should  at  once  forward  their  names  to  the  publisher. 

t  A  few  specimens  of  these  inaccuracies  are  given  in  a  separate  Prospcetus,  with  a  specimen  of 
the  work,  which  will  be  supplied  (gratis)  «.n  application. 

N.B  —TO  THE  T^ADE.— The  first  number  will  be  forwarded  generally  as 
a  Specimen,  on  sale  ;  but  no  fiiture  number  will  be  sent  unless  actually  ordered. 

21 


Gt.  P.  putjn'am's  new  publication's. 


Cljnto  ^Unstnitei  %uk. 


CONTINUED. 


Zays  of  tJie  Westeivi  World. 


Contents : — "  Love's  Requiem,"  by  Charles  Fenno  Hoffman  ;  "The  Mother  of  Moses,"  by  Mrs. 
Osgood ;  "  The  I,and  of  Dreams,"  by  Wm.  C.  Bryant ;  "  Lees  in  the  Cuf  of  Life,"  by  Mrs.  S.  G. 
Howe  ;  "The  Night  Cometh,"  by  Mrs.  Embury  ;  "  The  Tournament  at  Acre,"  by  H.  W.  Her- 
bert; "Greenwood,"  by  Miss  Pindar ;  "  Worship,"  by  Miss  Bayard;  "The  Child's  Mission,"  by 
Mrs.  Embury. 

Small  folio,  illuminated  in  the  most  superb  manner  by  Mapleson,  with  Borders  and  Vignettes- 
printed  in  Gold,  Silver,  and  Colors — bound  in  morocco,  in  a  massive  style — forming  the  most 
elegant  and  recherche  book  of  the  kind  ever  produced  in  this  country.     $12. 


Oriental  lAfe  Illustrated : 


Being  a  New  Edition  of  "  Eothen,"  or,  Traces  of  Travel  Brought  Home  from 
the  East.  Illustrated  with  fine  Steel  Engravings.  l2mo,  cloth,  extra 
gilt,  $1  50. 


Illustrated  Grecian  and  Roman  Mythology, 

BY   M.   A.  DWIGHT. 

With  Preface  by  Prof.  Tayler  Lewis,  of  the  University  of  New- York.  17 
Illustrations.  1  vol.  8vo,  cloth  extra,  half  morocco,  top  edge  gilt,  $3  75 ; 
cloth,  gilt  edges,  $3  50  ;  plain  $3. 


Poems, 


BY    ANNE   CHARLOTTE    LYNCH. 

Illustrated  by  Durand,  Huntington,  Darley,  Dugan,  Rothermel,  (fee.  &c. 
One  volume,  8vo  Elegantly  printed  on  superfine  paper,  uniform  with 
the  Illustrated  Editions  of  Willis,  Bryant,  Longfellow,  &c.  Cloth,  $1  50  ; 
gilt  extra,  ^2 ;  morocco  extra,  ^3. 


A.  Boole  of  the  Hudson  / 


Collected  from  the  Various  Writings  of  Diedrich  Knickerbocker.    Edited  by 
Geoffrey  Crayon.     New  edition   in   large  type,  with   four    Illustrations. 
l8mo,  50  cents. 
The  Cheaper  Edition,  without  plates,  smaller  type,  37J  cents. 
"One  of  the  most  delightful  w^-'.cs  in  the  language." — Boston  Transcript. 
"Summer  Tou'-ists  on  the  Hudson  can  find  no  plea-santer  companion  than  this." 
"A  happy  idea  this  of  brinsine  tosrether  in  a  volume,   for  the  pnrket.  the  scattered  tales  and 
sketches  of'the  Hudson,  which  fill  so  many  attractive  paees  in  'he  different  volumes  of  Washing- 
ton Irviner.     The  man  IS  to  be  envied  who.  with  a  '•..miner  jry  before  him,  embarks  on  one  of 
the  floatin?  palaces  of  the  river  with  this  choice  volume  for  his  cnmp;mion.  as  he  is  borne  along 
the  ample  breadth  of  the  Tappan  Sea,  by  the  walls  of  the  Palisades,  or  threads  the  srrand  defiles 
of  the  Highlands      He  will  be  put  in  a  mood  for  the  most  exquisite  enjoyment  of  book  and  land- 
scape as  he  glances  from  one  to  the  other." — Lit.  World. 

22 


G.    P.    PUTNAIkl  S    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


dDtjitr  ^^opular  0olumts  for  pmnb. 

ELEGANTLY    BOUND    IN    EXTRA    CLOTH,    GILT    EDGES. 
Those  marked  thus  *  are  New  Editions,  with  illuminated  title-pages.     Ea^^  ^^mo. 

*  Chaucer :  Selections,  hy  Deshler  -         -         -  ^1  UU. 

*  Fouque's  Undine  and  Sintram          -         -  -     1  00. 

*  Gilman's  Sibyl;  or,  New  Oracles  from  Poets  1  50. 

*  Goldsmith's  Vicar  of  Wakefield,  illustrated  1  00. 

*  Hervey's  Book  of  Christmas     -        -        -  -     1  00. 

*  Howitt's  {Mary)  Songs  and  Ballads,  with  portrait  1  25. 

*  Hood's  Prose  and  Verse   -        -        '        '  '     \^^S 

*  Hunt's  Italian  Poets     "         "        *         "        "  7  ^^* 

*  Hunt's  Imagination  and  Fancy  -  -  '  ^  ^^ 
Irving's  Sketch-Book  -  -  "  "  '  |  l,^" 
Irving's  Bracebridge  Hall  -  -  -  -  1  75. 
Irvijig's  Tales  of  a  Traveller  '  '  '  }  \l' 
Irving's  Oliver  Goldsmith,  a  Biography  -     1  7o. 

*  Keats'  Poetical  Works  -         -        -         "  ^  ^^• 

*  Keats'  Life  and  Letters |  ^^• 

*  Lamb's  Dramatic  Poets        -        -        -        "  j  ^||- 

*  Lamb's  Essays  of  Elia    -        -        -        "  1^0 

*  Oriental  Life  Illustrated,  plates  -        -        -  1  ^"• 

Green  on  Bronchitis. 

SECOND  EDITION,  REVISED   AND   ENLARGED. 

SSkit  Chroric  Laryngitis,  Clergyman's  Sore  Throa,,  &c.  &c. 

BY    HORACE   GREEN,   A.M.,   M.D.,   &.C. 
Plates  improved  and  carefully  Colored.     Royal  8vo,  gilt  tops,  $3. 
aTheAu,horh,.ma,,ea™s,v.;ua^^^^^^^ 

»22£HEH!±ar—  .a....i.i— »^ 

23 


G.  P.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


^eit-lDob  for  Cnllegts  mh  ligli  §t^mlB. 

The  PraGtical  Elocutionist^ 

For  Colleges,  Academies,  and  High  Schools, 

BY  JOHN  W.  S.   HOWS, 

Professor  of  Elocution  in  Columbia  College. 

*,*  This  work  is  confidently  recommended  to  the  attention  of  the  Teaching  Public,  and  intelli- 
gent students,  for  its  thorough  practical  character. 

It  comprises  the  Author's  system  of  Elocutionary  Instruction,  which,  during  a  long  course  of 
successful  professional  practice,  has  been  most  satisfactorily  tested  and  stamped  by  public  ap- 
proval. 

A  close  analytical  dissection  of  the  sense  and  construction  of  language  is  made  the  leading  prin- 
ciple of  instruction,  rather  than  a  servile  adherence  to  elaborate  mechanical  rules.  Nature  is  at 
all  times  followed  as  the  only  sure  Teacher.  The  perceptive  and  reasoning  powers  of  the  Pupil 
are  constantly  brought  into  action,  and  the  few  essential  rules  of  the  art  are  so  simplified  and 
adapted  on  these  principles,  as  to  become  only  the  subordinate  auxiliaries  in  the  acquirement  of  an 
earnest,  natural,  and  unaffected  mode  of  delivery. 

A  copious  and  varied  selection  of  Examples,  from  the  best  Authors,  are  given  for  practice  in  the 
illustration  of  the  system,  the  larger  portion  of  which  have  never  before  been  incorporated  into 
any  similar  work.  They  will  be  found  of  an  uniform  higli-toned  character,  and  will  furnish  to  the 
youthful  Pupil  a  vocabulary  of  thought  and  intbrraation  on  topics  of  general  importance  and  in- 
terest. 

Large  12ino.     In  August. 


TJie  Crayon  Reading  JBooh  ; 

Comprising  Selections  from  the  various  Writings  of 

WASHINGTON    IRVING. 

Prepared  for  the  use  of  Schools.   l2mo.     In  August. 

*,*  This  volume  comprises  a  series  of  scenes,  adventures,  sketches  of  character,  and  historical 
pictures  from  the  Life  of  Columbus,  Astoria,  Tour  on  the  Prairies,  Granada,  Bracebridge  Hall, 
Sketch  Book,  &c.,  arranged  so  as  to  form  an  acceptable  and  useful  reading  book  for  the  higher 
classes  in  schools  and  academies. 


The  Botanical  Text-Booh. 

BY    PROF.  A.  GRAY, 

Of  Harvard  College. 

With  1000  Engravings  on  wood.     New  edition,  l2mo,  $1   75.     [See  page  IL] 

"The  best  elementary  view  of  the  vegetable  \i\ns,Aom."—Silliman^s  Journal. 


Prof.  DanoHs  System  of  Mineralogy  ; 

Comprising  the  most  recent  discoveries.     New  edition,  8vo,  $3  50.     [See  p.  13.] 


A  Chemical  Text- Booh. 

BY    OLIVER  WOLCOTT   GIBBS, 

Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  Free  Academy,  New-  York. 

12mo.     In  preparation. 

24 


G.  P.  putj^am's  new  publications. 

€nt-33nnk3  for  CullrgrH  nnii  Jjigl;  Irjjiinls. 

CONTINUED. 

^  Mytliolocjical  Text- Book  : 

With  original  illustrations.    Adapted  to  the  use  of  Universities  and  High  Schools, 
and  for  popular  reading. 

BY    M.  A.    DWIGHT, 

With  an  Introduction  by  Tayler  Lewis,  Professor  of  Greek  in  the  University 

of  New- York.     12nio,  half  bound  ^1  50. 
Also,  a  fine  edition  in  octavo,  with  illustrations,  cloth,  ^.3  ;  cloth  gilt,  $.3  50 ; 

half  morocco,  top  edge  gilt,  ^3  75. 

*,*  This  work  has  been  prepared  with  great  care,  illustrated  with  effective  outline  arawings, 
and  is  designed  to  treat  the  subject  in  an  original,  comprehensive,  and  unexceptionable  manner,  so 
as  to  fill  ihe  place,  as  a  text-book,  which  is  yet  unsupplied  ;  while  it  is  also  an  attractive  and 
readable  table  book  for  general  use.  It  is  introduced  as  a  text-book  in  many  of  the  leading  colleges 
and  schools. 

"  As  a  book  of  reference  for  the  general  reader,  we  know  not  its  equal.  The  information  it  con- 
tains is  almost  as  necessary  to  the  active  reader  of  modern  literature,  as  for  the  professed  scholar." 
— Home  Journal. 

"A  valuable  addition  to  our  elementary  school  books,  being  written  in  good  taste  and  with  ability, 
and  well  adapted  to  popular  instruction.— Pro/".  Webster,  Principal  of  the  Free  Acadeiny,  N.  Y 


Coe's  Drawing  Cards. 

Studies  in  Drawing,  in  a  Progressive  Series  of  Lessons  on  Cards  ;  beginning 
with  the  most  Elementary  Studies,  and  adapted  for  use  at  Home  and  in 
Schools. 

BY    BENJAMIN    H.  COE, 

Teacher  of  Drawing. 

In  ten  Series — marsed  1  to  10 — each  containing   about   eighteen  Studies. 
25  cents  each  Series. 

The  design  is  : 
I.  To  make  the  exercise  in  drawing  highly  interesting  to  the  pupil. 
II.  To  make  drawings  so  simple,  and  so  gradually  progressive,  as  to  enable  any  teacher,  whether 

acquainted  with  drawing  or  not,  to  instruct  his  pupils  to  ad\-antage. 
ni.  To  take  the  place  of  one  half  of  the  writing  lessons,  with  confidence  that  the  learner  will 

acquire  a  knowledge  of  writing  in  less  time  than  is  usually  required. 
IV.  To  give  the  pupils  a  bold,  rapid,  and  artist-like  style  of  drawing. 

They  are  executed  with  taste  and  skill,  and  form,  in  our  judgment,  one  of  the  best  series  of  les- 
sons in  drawing,  which  we  have  met  with.  The  author  justly  remarks,  that  "  the  whole  is  so  sim- 
plified as  to  enable  any  teacher,  without  previous  study,  to  instruct  his  pupils  with  advantage." 


%  I,  a.  Bilitnni  (Erxt-Sf 


An  'Elementary  Treatise  on  Artillery  and  Infantry.^ 

Adapted  for  the  Service  of  the  United  States.  Designed  for  the  use  of  Cadets 
of  the  U.  S  Military  Academy,  and  for  the  Officers  of  the  Independent, 
Companies  and  Volunteers.     ]2mo. 

BY  C.  P.  KINGSBURY,  LIEUT.  U.  S.  A. 

*^'  This  volume  is  used  as  a  text-book  in  the  Unitcil  States  Militaiy  xVcademy,  and  will  be  intro- 
duced in  the  other  military  schools.  It  is  the  most  useful  and  coruprehensive  treatise  in  eithet 
French  or  English ;  and  is  equally  adapted  for  use  in  the  militia  service  and  in  th^  d^xxaj. 

25 


Q.  P.  puti^am's  new  publicatioks. 


Slnglo-laxon. 


Anglo-Saxon  Cowse  of  Study, 

A  Compendious  A^iglo- Saxon  and  English  Dictwnary. 

By  the  Rev.  Joseph  Bosworth,  D.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c.,  &c,  1  vol.,  8vo, 
cloth,  $3. 

A  Grammar  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Language. 

By  Louis  F.  Klipstei??,  A.M.,  LL.M.,  and  Ph.  D.,  of  the  University  of 
Giessen.     l2mo,  cloth,  ^1  25. 

Tha  Halgan  Godspel  on  Englisc. 

The  Anglo-Saxon  Version  of  the  Holy  Gospels.  Edited  by  Benjamin 
Thorpe,  F.S.A.     Reprinted  by  the  same.     l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

Analecta  Anglo- Saxo7iica^ 

With  an  Introductory  Ethnological  Essay,  and  Notes,  Critical  and  Ex- 
planatory. By  Louis  F.  Klipstein,  A.M.,  LL.M.,  and  Ph.  D.,  of  the 
University  of   Giessen.      2  vols.,  1200  pages,  $3  50. 

Natale  Sancti  Gregorii  Papce. 

iElfric's  Homily  on  the  Birthday  of  St.  Gregory,  and  Collateral  Ex- 
tracts from  King  Alfred's  Version  of  Bede's  Ecclesiastical  History 
and  the  Saxon  Chronicle,  with  a  full  Rendering  into  English,  Notes 
Critical  and  Explanatory,  and  an  Index  of  Stems  and  Forms.  By 
Louis  F.  Klipstein,  A.M.,  LL.M.,  and  Ph.  D.,  of  the  University  of 
Giessen.     l2mo,  75  cts. 

A  Glossary  to  the  Analecta  Anglo-Saxxynica^ 

With  the  Indo-Germanic  and  other  Affinities  of  the  Language.  By 
Louis  F.  Klipstein,  A.M.,  LL.M.,  and  Ph.  D.,  of  the  University  of 
Giessen      In  preparation. 

"  There  is  no  doubt  that  a  few  years  hence,  the  persevering  and  ill-rewarded  toils  of  this  learned 
scholar  will  be  looked  back  upon  with  sincere  gratitude,  by  all  who  love  the  study  of  our  incom- 

E arable  language,  in  its  better  and  more  sinewy  part.  If  Dr.  K.  is,  as  we  suppose,  a  foreisner.  he 
as  acquired  a  masteiy  of  English  which  is  marvellous,  and  which,  by  the  by,  shows  the  advantage 
to  be  derived  from  Anglo-Saxon.  These  volumes,  taken  in  connection  with  the  grammar,  and  the 
forthcoming  glossary,  will  make  it  easy  for  any  private  student  to  make  himself  acquainted  with 
that  delightful  old  tongue,  to  which  we  owe  almost  all  our  words  of  endearment,  such  as  home., 
father.,  mother,  brother,  sister;  almost  all  our  names  of  En£lish  flowers,  as  daisy,  cowslip,  prim- 
rose, nosegay ;  and  abundance  of  the  short,  monosyllabic,  piingent  nouns,  which  half-learned  folks 
would  barter  away  for  sesquipedalian  latinisms.  We  mean  such  as  dell,  dale,  wrath,  icealfh, 
knave,  thrust,  churl,  wrealh,  and  soul.  The  preliminary  essay  prepares  the  way,  by  tracing  very 
clearly  the  lineage  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  language:  it  is  a  valuable  contribution  to  Ethnology."— 
Presbyterian. 

"Surely  it  is  a  matter  of  concern  to  know  and  understand  well  our  own  tongue.  How  much 
better  then  would  it  be,  if  in  our  public  and  private  schools,  as  much  attention  at  least  were  given 
to  the  teachings  of  English  as  of  Greek  and  Latin,  that  our  youths  might  bring  home  with  them  a 
racy  idiomatic  way  of  speaking  and  writing  their  own  language,  instead  of  a  smattering  of  Greek 
and' Latin,  which  they  almost  forget  and  generally  neglect  in  a  few  years' time.  *  *  *  For  this, 
a  study  of  the  Anglo'Saxon  is  absolutely  needful ;  for  after  all,  it  has  bequeathed  to  us  by  far  the 
largest  stock  of  words  in  our  language." — Loudon. 

"The  most  valuable  portion  of  our  language  comes  to  us  directly  through  the  Anglo-Saxon  ;  and 
to  make  the  study  of  it  a  part  of  our  general  system  of  education,  would  be  to  administer  the  most 
powerful  antidote  to  the  deteriorating  influence  of  would-be  fine  speakers  and  writers,  which  is 
gradually  robbing  our  English  speech  of  much  of  its  native  energy  and  precision.— izY.  World. 

26 


G.    P.    PUTTTA]\l's    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


fd\m  XtWm, 


Cliaucer'^s  Poems. 


Selections  from  the  Poetical  Works  of  Geoffrey  Chaucer.     By  Charles  D. 
Deshler.     1  vol.,  l2mo,  green  cloth,  63  cts. 


Climicer  and  Spenser, 


Selections  from  the  Poetical  Works  of  Geoffrey  Chaucer.  By  Charles  D, 
Deshler.  Spenser,  and  the  Faery  Queen.  By  Mrs.  C.  M.  Kirkland 
1  vol.,  l2mo,  cloth,  %\  25. 

"  A  mine  of  wealth  and  enjoyment,  a  golden  treasury  of  exquisite  models,  of  graceful  fancies,  of 
fine  inventions,  and  of  beautiful  diction."— Cmcmn«a'  Herald. 


Foiique. —  Undine  and  Sintram, 


Undine,  a  Tale  ;  and  Sintram  and  his  Companions,  a  Tale.     From  the  Ger- 
man of  La  Motte  Fouque.      1  vol.,  l2mo,  green  cloth,  50  cts. 

"  Undine  is  an  exquisite  creation  of  the  imagination,  and  universally  regarded  as  a  masterpiece 
in  this  department  of  literature."— /2/c/j//io/id'^7'/mes. 


Oilman.^  Mrs. — The  Sibyl ; 


Or,  Nevv^   Oracles  from  the  Poets ;    a  Fanciful  Diversion  for  the  Drawmg- 
Room.     1  vol.,  l2mo,  cloth,  extra  gilt,  $1  50. 

"A  sweet  book  of  short  and  most  pleasant  quotations  from  the  poets,  illustrative  of  character 
taste.s  loves,  &c.,  formed  into  a  drawing-room  game,  with  questions  and  answers.  It  is  beautifully 
designed,  beautifully  executed,  and  beautifully  robed  for  the  gift-dispensing  Chi'istmas  and  New- 
Year  \iu\Aic."— Evangelist. 


Goldsmith. — The  Vicar  of  Wakefield. 

By  Oliver  Goldsmith.     1  vol.,  l2mo,  neatly  printed,  cloth,  50  cts, 

The  same,  illustrated  with  designs  by  Mulready,  elegantly  bound,  gilt 

edges,  ^L 
"  This  tale  is  the  lasting  monument  of  Goldsmith's  genius,  his  great  legacy  of  pleasure  to  genera- 
tions past,  present,  and  to  come." 


Hervey. — The  Booh  of  Christmas 


Descriptive  of  the  Customs,  Ceremonies,  Traditions,  Supe'-stitions,  Fun,  Feel- 
ing, and  Festivities  of  the  Christmas  Season.  By  Thomas  K.  Hervey. 
12mo,  green  cloth,  63  cts. 

The  same,  gilt  extra,  $L 


"ETery  leaf  of  this  book  aflTords  a  feast  worthy  of  the  season."— Dr.  Hawks'  Church  Record. 

27 


G.  P.  putin-am's  new  publications. 


aCrllrB   ttitm. 

CONTINUED. 

Hood. — Prose  and  Verse. 

Bv  Thomas  Hood.     l2mo,  green  cloth,  ^1. 
The  same,  gilt  extra,  ^1  25. 

"  A  very  judicious  selection,  designed  to  embrace  Hood's  more  earnest  writings,  those  which 
were  written  from  the  heart,  wliich  reflect  most  faithfully  his  life  and  opimons."— Brocdiray 
Journal. 


Hoioitt. — Ballads  and  other  Poems, 

By  Mary  Howitt.     1  vol.,  l2mo,  green  cloth,  75cts. 
The  same,  with  fine  portrait,  gilt  extra,  ^1. 

"  Her  poems  are  always  graceful  and  beautiful.— Mrs.  S.  C.  Hall. 

"  We  cannot  commend  too  highly  the  present  publication,  and  only  hope  that  the  reading  public 
will  relish  '  Mary  Howitt's  Ballads  and  other  Poems,'  now  for  the  first  time  put  forth  in  a  collected 
form." — Albion. 


Hunt — Imagination  and  Fancy  ^ 


Or,  Selections  from  the  English  Poets,  illustrative  of  those  first  requisites 
of  their  Art  ;  with  markings  of  the  best  Passages,  Critical  Notices 
of  the  best  writers,  &.c.  By  Leigh  Hunt.  1  vol.,  12mo,  green  cloth, 
62  cts. 

The  same,  gilt  extra,  $L 


"  One  of  those  unmistakable  gems  about  which  no  two  people  differ.  It  is  really  and  truly  an 
exquisite  selection  of  lovely  passages,  accompanied  with  critical  notices  of  unusual  worth  ;  and  it 
would  be  difficult  to  selecta  work  on  the  subject  so  beautifully,  earnestly,  eloquently  written." — 
Westminster  Review. 

"  This  volume  is  most  justly  to  be  called  a  feast  of  neetared  sweets  where  no  crude  surfeit  reigns." 
London  Examiner. 


Hunt. — Stories  from  tlie  Italian  Poets : 


king  a  Summary  in  Prose  of  the  Poems  of  Dante,  Pulci,  Boiardo,  Ariosto, 
and  Tasso  ;  with  Comments  throughout,  occasional  passages  Versified,  and 
Critical  Notices  of  the  Lives  and  Genius  of  the  Authors.  By  Leigh 
Hunt.     12mo,  cloth,  ,$1  25. 

The  same,  fancy  gilt,  $1  75. 


"Mr.  Hunt'.s  book  has  been  aptly  styled,  a  series  of  exquisite  engravings  of  the  magnificent  pie* 
tures  painted  by  these  great  Italian  masters." — Tournal  of  Commerce. 

28 


G.  P.  Putnam's  new  publications. 


CONTINUEB. 

Irvmg. 

T/ie  Histwy  of  New-  York^ 

From   the   Beginning  of  the  World  to  the  End  of  the   Dutch  Dynasty, 
l2mo,  cloth,  ^1  25. 

TJw  Sketch  Book  of  Geoffrey  Crayon^  Gent. 

l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

Braxxbridge  Hall ;  w,  T/ie  Humorists : 

A  Medley.     12mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

Tales  of  a  Traveller. 

l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

TJie  Conquest  of  Granada. 

l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

Tlie  Alhambra. 

12mo,  cloth,  f  1  25. 

The  Crayon  Miscellany. 

l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

Oliver  Goldsmith:  a  Biography. 

l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

Miscellanies. 

l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

.*  See  "  History,"  "  Travels,"  &c 
N.  B.  Any  of  the  above  may  be  had  in  extra  bindings  :  half  calf,  75  cts.  extra ;  half  morocco.  51 
sxtra;  full  calf,  per  volume,  $1  25  extra. 


Keats. — Poetical  Worhs. 

The  Poetical  Works  of  John  Keats.     1  vol.,  l2mo,  cloth,  $1. 
The  same,  gilt  extra,  $1  25. 

"  They  are  flushed  all  over  with  the  rich  lisht.s  of  fancy  ;  and  so  colored  and  bestrewn  with  the 
flowers  of  poetry,  that,  even  while  perplexed  and  bewi'lered  in  their  labyrinths,  it  is  impossible 
to  resist  the  intoxication  of  their  sweetness,  or  to  shut  oiir  hearts  to  the  enchantment  they  so 
lavishly  present.— i^rawc/s  Jeffrey. 


Keats. — Life.,  Letters.,  &g. 

The  Life,  Letters,  and  Literary  Remains  of  John  Keats.     Edited  by  Richard 
MoNCTON  MiLNES.     Portrait  and  fac- simile.     1  vol.,  l2mo,  cloth,  $1  25. 

The  same,  gilt  extra,  $1  50. 


"  A  volume  which  will  take  its  place  among  the  imperishable  ones  of  the  age."    *    '    *    "  It  is 
replete  with  interest." 

29 


G.    P. 

%M{m  tttim. 

CONTINUED. 

r^owell. — A  Mihlefor  Critics  : 

Or  A  Glance   at  a  Few  of  Our  Literary  Progenies.     By  a  Wonderful   Quiz. 
1  vol.,  12mo,  boards,  50  cents  ;  cloth,  63  cts. 

"  Beneath  its  unpretending  drab  cover  lies  hid  a  w«-ld  of  polished  satire,  keen  subtle  humor, 
md  manly  vigorous  sentiment,  interspersed  with  touches  of  genuine  pathos." — Knickerbocker 
Magazine. 

"  Showing  the  power  of  a  master  in  verse,  the  heart  of  a  true  man,  the  learning  of  a  scholar,  the 
jiind  of  a  philosopher,  and  the  wit  of  a  satirist,  without  the  gall  which  too  often  accompanies  it."— 
Bolden's  Mag. 

"  Nothing  abler  has  ever  come  from  the  American  press  in  the  form  of  satire."— Prov.  Jour. 


Lamh. — Essays  of  Elia, 

By  Charles  Lamb.     1  vol.,  l2mo,  cloth,  ^1. 

The  same,  gilt  extra,  $1  25. 

"  Shakspeare  himself  might  have  read  them,  and  Hamlet  have  quoted  them  ;  for  truly  was  our 
excellent  friend  of  the  genuine  line  of  Yoxxz^."— Leigh  HunVs  London  Journal. 


Lamh, — Specimens  of  the  Miglisli  Diximatic  Poets. 

By  Charles  Lamb.     1  vol.,  l2mo,  green  cloth,  ^1  25. 

The  same,  gilt  extra,  $1  50, 

"Nowhere  are  the  resources  of  the  English  tongue,  in  power,  in  sweetness,  terror,  pathos,  in  de- 
Bcription  and  dialogue,  so  well  displayed." — Broadway  Journal. 


LyncJi, — Poems.,  &c. 

By  Anne  C.  Lynch.  1  vol.  Elegantly  illustrated  from  designs  by  Durand, 
Huntington,  Darley,  Rossiter,  Brown,  Dugan,  &c.  8vo,  cloth,  $1  50  ; 
gilt  extra,  $2. 

"The  many  beautiful  and  sublime  thoughts  that  are  scattered  through  this  volume  will  amply 
repay  a  perusal. — Albany  Eve.  Jour 


Montagues  Selections  from  Old  English  Writers. 

Selections  from  the  Works  of  Taylor,  Latimer,  Hall,  Milton,  Barrow,  Lowth, 
Brown,  Fuller,  and  Bacon  By  Basil  Montagu.  1  vol.,  12mo,  green 
cloth,  50  cents  ;  cloth  gih,  $L 

"This  volume  contains  choice  extracts  from  some  of  the  noblest  of  the  old  English  writers."— 
Cincinnati  Atlas. 

"  A  book  of  delight.     It  is  for  the  head,  the  heart,  the  imagination,  and  the  taste,  all  at  once." 

30 


G.    P.    PUTNAM  S    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


CONTINUED. 

Peacock, — Headlong  Hall  and  Nightmare  Ahhey. 

1  vol.,  l2mo,  green  cloth,  50  cts. 

"  Works  of  singular  merit,  but  of  a  character  so  peculiar  that  we  cannot  give  any  descriptive 
account  of  them  in  the  space  at  our  command.  Wide  sweeping,  vigorous  satire  is  their  charac- 
teristic ;  satire  not  so  much  of  men  as  of  opinions.  *  '  *  The  production  of  a  mind  contem- 
plative in  Its  turn,  but  keenly  alive  to  the  absurdity  of  human  pretension.  There  is  scarcely  a 
topic  which  is  not  here  embodied  or  glanced  at ;  and  modern  philosophy  is  pretty  severely  hit,  aa 
may  be  inferred  from  the  motto  of  Headlong  Hall : 

'  All  philosophers,  who  find 
Some  favorite  system  to  their  mind, 
In  every  point  to  make  it  fit. 
Will  force  all  nature  to  submit.'  " 

Cincinnati  Atlas. 


Tasso, — Godfrey  of  Bidloigne  ; 

Or,  the   Recovery  of  Jerusalem  :   done   into  English  Historical  Verse,  from 
the  Italian  of  Tasso,  by  Edward  Fairfax.     Introductory  Essay,  by  Leigh 
Hunt  ;  and  the   Lives  of  Tasso  and  Fairfax,  by  Charles  Knight.     1  vol., 
12mo,  $1  25. 
"The  completest  translation,  and  nearest  like  its  original  of  any  we  have  seen."— Leigh  Hunt. 
"  The  Jerusalem  Delivered  is  full,  to  the  last  stanza,  of  the  most  delightful  inventions,  of  the 
most  charming  pictures,  of  chivalric  and  heroic  sentiment,  of  portraits  of  brave  men  and  beautiful 
women— in  fine,  a  prodigal  mine  of  the  choicest  resources  and  effects  of  poetry.     So  it  has  been 
always  known  to  the  world,  so  Fairfax  brings  it  to  us." — Mirror. 


Taylc 


'.or. — Poems  and  Ballads. 

The  Poems  and  Ballads  of  J.  Bayard  Taylor.      With   Portrait  painted 
by  T.  Buchanan  Read,  Esq.      l2mo,  cloth,   75  cents  ;    cloth  gilt  extra, 
^1  25. 
"  A  spirit  of  boldness  and  vigor  pervades  the  volume." 

"  '  The  Picturesque  Ballads  of  Calilbrnia '  have  a  dash  of  boldness  and  adventure  in  them,  which 
contrasts  pleasantly  with  the  more  purely  sentimental  poems." 


Walton. — The  Lives  of  Donne^  Walton.^  Hoolcei\ 

Herbert,  and  Sanderson.     By  Izaak  Walton.     New  edition.     1  vol.,  l2mo, 
green  cloth,  $1. 

"  The  Lives  are  the  most  delightful  kind  of  reading.     Walton  possesses  an  inimitable  simplicity 
and  vivacity  of  style.— iVirs.  Kirkland. 


Bihliotheca  Americana. 

A  Catalogue  of  American  Publications,  including  Reprints  and  Original  Works, 
from  1820  to  1848,  inclusive.     Compiled  by  0.  A.  Roorbach.     Royal  8ro, 
pp.  359,  $4. 
",*  A  very  useful  book  to  all  librarians  and  booksellers. 

31 


G.    P.    PUTNAM  S    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


The  Nursery  Book  for  Young  Mothers. 

BY    MRS.    L.    C.  TUTHILL. 

l8mo,  50  cents. 

',*  This  volume  will  be  a  welcome  present  to  young  mothers.  It  comprise?  familiar  letters  on 
all 'topics  connected  with  the  medical  and  educational  departments  of  the  Nursery,  and  is  just 
such  a  book  as  every  mother  will  find  practically  useful ;  and  all  the  more  so  as  it  is  wntten  by  a 
competent  and  experienced  person  of  their  own  sex. 

"There  is  much  excellent  counsel  in  this  volume,  with  occasional  toucnes  of  nature,  which 
shows  that  the  author  is  observant,  and  has  accustomed  herself  lo  note  the  errors  of  physical  and 
domestic  eilucation.  Indeed  there  are  some  happy  hits  at  the  mistakes  of  this  son  which  are  as 
common  as  children,  and  graver  admonitions  that  '  young  mothers,'  and  some  assuming  to  have 
more  experience,  might  greatly  profit  by."— jV.  Y.  Coin.  Adv. 

"The  title  of  this  neat  little  volume  would  not  at  first  seem  to  mdicate  any  thing  new  or  pecu- 
liarly interesting,  but  at  the  very  first  page  the  attention  is  arrested,  and  from  thence  to  the  very 
last  note  in  the  Appendix  the  interest  does  not  flag.  It  is  no  dry  disquisition  upon  diet  and  medi- 
cines, but  has  for  its  topic  nursery  education  in  every  branch.  The  instruction  on  these  various 
points  is  communicated  in  sprightly  letters  from  an  aunt  to  her  niece,  who,  despomhng  like  all 
young  mr  thers  when  first  left  to  the  care  of  their  inlants.  applies  to  her  for  assistance.  The  niece. 
Mrs.  Haston,  is  extremely  well  drawn.  From  the  moment  that  she  first  attempts  the  child's  bath, 
and  sits  'shivering  and  trembling,  afraid  to  touch  the  droll  little  object,'  to  her  anxious  imiuiries 
with  regard  to  the  mental  and  moral  training  of  her  children,  she  is  a  true  woman,  and  a  true  mo- 
ther. The  circumstances  which  call  forth  "the  various  points  of  instruction  from  her  aunt  are 
most  naturally  developed,  and,  on  the  whole,  we  regard  it  as  the  best  book  of  the  kind  ever  pub- 
lished. Its  peculiar  excellence  is  the  sprightly  and  aereeable  style  which  we  have  before  alluded 
to,  and  which  would  arrest  the  attention  of  many  a  giddy  "giil-mother,'  who  woukl  throw  aside  a 
dry  treatise  in  despair.  Mrs.  Tuthill  quotes  the  most  unexceptionable  authorities  for  her  nursery 
rules  for  health."— PAzVa.  Sat.  Gazette. 


CjlHia  %uh  fnr  ^m^  ^hiimm  ml  Irjjnnl  lilirarirs, 

MRS.    L.    C.    TUTH  I  L  L. 

Success  ill  Life:  The  Merchant: 

A  Biography  ;  with  Anecdotes  and  Practical  Application  for  New  Beginners. 
12mo.     In  August. 

"  We  fare  on  earth  as  other  men  have  fared ; 
Were  they  successful  1  Let  us  not  despair !" 


Success  in  Life  ;  The  Mechanic : 

A  Biographical  Example.     l8mo.     In  September. 
[To  be  followed  by  "  The  Artist,"  "  The  Lawyer,"   &c.] 

*.*  The  aim  of  this  Series  is  to  develop  the  talent  and  energy  of  boys  just  merging  into  man- 
hoo'd,  and  to  assist  them  in  choosing  their  pursuits  for  life. 

"  Success !  How  the  heart  bounds  at  the  exulting  word  1  Success !  Man's  aim  from  the  mo- 
ment he  places  his  tiny  foot  upon  the  floor  till  he  lays  his  weary  gray  head  in  the  grave.  Suc- 
cess, the  exciting  motive  to  all  endeavor  and  its  crowning  glory."— Extract  from  Preface. 


Tkienings  with  the  Old  Story  Tellers. 

One  volume,  12mo,  green  cloth,  50  cents. 
■A  quiet  humor,  a  quaintness  and  terseness  of  style  will  strongly  recommend  iYvexn." —Etiglith 


Churchman. 

32 


Q.    P.    PUTNA^I'S    NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


CONTINUED. 

GlwvpsGS  of  the  Wonderful. 

An  entertaining  account  of  Curiosities  of  Nature  and  Art.  First,  Second,  and 
Tliird  Series,  with  numerous  Fine  Illustrations,  engraved  in  London 
Square  16rao    cloth,  each,  75  cents. 


MISS    SEDGEWICK. 

TTie  Morals  of  Manners; 

Or,  Hints  for  our  Young  People.     New  Edition.     Square  l6mo,  with  cuts, 
cloth,  25  cents. 

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For  School-Day  Reading;  a  Sequel  to  "  Morals  of  Manners."     Square  16mo, 
with  cuts,  50  cents. 

*  *  These  excellent  little  books,  prepared  with  reference  to  the  important  but  too  much  neglected 
matter  of  the  good  and  bad  manners  of  younft  people,  are  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  School  Li- 
brary in  the  land— and  should  be  put  in  the  hands  of  every  child  old  enough  to  understand  that 
good  manners  are,  and  should  be,  quite  as  essential  as  progress  in  book-learning.  The  School 
Committee  of  New-York,  have  ordered  them  for  all  the  City  School  libraries.  A  cheaper  edition 
of  the  Morals  of  Manners  can  be  supplied  for  ^\2  50  per  100. 


Tlie  Home  Treasury  ; 

Comprising  new  versions  of  Cinderella,  Beauty  and  the  Beast,  Grumble  and 
Cheery,  The  Eagle's  Verdict,  The  Sleeping  Beauty.  Revised  and  Illus- 
trated.    Small  4to,  50  cents. 


Young  Naturalist^ s  EamUes  through  Many  Lands  ; 

With  an  Account  of  the  Principal  Animals  and  Birds  of  the  Old  and  New 
Continents.     With  Woodcuts.     Cloth,  50  cents. 


The  Game  of  Natural  History, 

A  Series  of  Cards,  Carefully  Drawn  and  Colored,  representing  the  most 
Important  and  Interesting  of  the  Animal  Creation.  With  Questions. 
Arranged  so  as  to  fonn  a  Pleasant  and  Interesting  Entertainment  for  a 
Juvenile  Party,  while  it  also  gives  Desirable  Information.  Price  50  cents, 
in  a  Case. 

33 


a.    p.    PUTNA]\l's    NEW    PUBLICATIOIS'S. 


loiihon  fdmh^ 


Imported  in  quantities^  ami  SKjijjliecl  to  tJie  Trade :  mme  of  tJiem  at 
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34 


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